Methods and apparatus related to peer discovery and/or paging in peer to peer wireless communications

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatus related to peer to peer communication networks are described. A peer to peer timing structure is implemented which includes recurring peer discovery intervals and traffic intervals. During a peer discovery interval, a wireless communications device, supporting peer to peer communications, monitors for and receives a broadcast signal from another peer wireless communications device, recovers an identifier from the received broadcast signal, and stores the received identifier in memory. The identifier is one of a device identifier and a user identifier. The wireless communications device maintains a list of discovered identifiers in its vicinity. In some embodiments, paging intervals are also included in the recurring peer to peer timing structure. In various embodiments, a wireless communications device receives or sends a page to a peer node prior to sending or receiving user data in a traffic interval. Various features are directed to peer paging protocol implementations.

FIELD

Various embodiments are directed to methods and apparatus for wirelesscommunication, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for use inpeer to peer wireless communication.

BACKGROUND

Wireless communications devices are common place. Many cellular systemsuse centralized controllers and/or other network based controlmechanisms to control wireless device operation so that cellular devicesoperate in an efficient and relatively synchronized manner.Unfortunately, in peer to peer systems such centralized control and/ornetwork based synchronization mechanisms are normally lacking.

In the case of peer to peer systems, it would be desirable if peerdevices could discover the presence of other peer devices in thevicinity and then use such knowledge to make communication and/or pagingdecisions. It would also be desirable if a peer device could operate ina loosely synchronized and/or predictable manner with respect to whencommunications and/or paging signals may be transmitted to other peerdevice in a system.

SUMMARY

Methods and apparatus related to peer to peer communication networks aredescribed. A peer to peer timing structure is implemented which includesrecurring peer discovery intervals and traffic intervals. In some butnot necessarily all embodiments, during a peer discovery interval, awireless communications device, supporting peer to peer communications,monitors for and receives a broadcast signal from another peer wirelesscommunications device, recovers an identifier from the receivedbroadcast signal, and stores the received identifier in memory. Theidentifier may be, for example, one of a device identifier and a useridentifier. Other identifiers are also possible.

In some but not necessarily all implementations, the wirelesscommunications device maintains a list of discovered identifiers in itsvicinity. In some embodiments, paging intervals are also included in therecurring peer to peer timing structure. In various embodiments, awireless communications device receives or sends a page to a peer nodeprior to sending or receiving user data in a traffic interval. Variousfeatures are directed to peer paging protocol implementations.

An exemplary method of operating a first wireless communications device,in accordance with at least some embodiments includes: accessing storedtiming structure information used to determine recurring peer discoveryintervals and traffic intervals; and during a peer discovery timeinterval, receiving a broadcast signal from a second wirelesscommunications device. In some such embodiments, the method furtherincludes recovering an identifier from the received broadcast signal,said identifier being one of a device identifier and a user identifier;and storing said recovered identifier in memory.

An exemplary first wireless communications device, in accordance withvarious embodiments includes memory including stored timing structureinformation used to determine recurring peer discovery intervals andtraffic intervals; an interval determination module for determining atype of interval corresponding to a point in time, said determinationmodule using accessed stored timing structure information. Some suchembodiments include a wireless receiver module for receiving a broadcastsignal from a second wireless communications device during a peerdiscovery time interval; and a peer identifier recovery module forrecovering an identifier from the received broadcast signal and forstoring said recovered identifier in memory, said identifier being oneof a device identifier and a user identifier.

While various embodiments have been discussed in the summary above, itshould be appreciated that not necessarily all embodiments include thesame features and some of the features described above are not necessarybut can be desirable in some embodiments. Numerous additional features,embodiments and benefits are discussed in the detailed description whichfollows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is drawing of an exemplary recurring peer to peer communicationssystem timing structure in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a wirelessterminal as part of a peer to peer communications system in accordancewith various embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a firstcommunications device, e.g., a mobile node using OFDM signaling andsupporting peer to peer communications, in accordance with variousembodiments.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a firstwireless communications device, e.g., a wireless terminal such as amobile node supporting peer to peer operations and using OFDM signaling,in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 5 comprising the combination of FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B, FIG. 5C and FIG.5D is a flowchart 500 of an exemplary method of operating a firstwireless communications device, e.g., a wireless terminal such as amobile node supporting peer to peer communications and using OFDMsignaling, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating an exemplary peer to peer timingstructure used by wireless terminals in accordance with variousembodiments.

FIG. 7 is a drawing illustrating an exemplary peer to peer timingstructure used by wireless terminals in accordance with variousembodiments.

FIG. 8 is a drawing illustrating an exemplary peer to peer timingstructure used by wireless terminals in accordance with variousembodiments.

FIG. 9 is a drawing illustrating an exemplary peer to peer timingstructure used by wireless terminals in accordance with variousembodiments.

FIG. 10 is a drawing illustrating an exemplary peer to peer timingstructure used by wireless terminals in accordance with variousembodiments.

FIG. 11 is a drawing illustrating an exemplary peer to peer timingstructure used by wireless terminals in accordance with variousembodiments.

FIG. 12 is a drawing illustrating an exemplary peer to peer timingstructure used by wireless terminals in accordance with variousembodiments.

FIG. 13 is a drawing illustrating an exemplary peer to peer timingstructure used by wireless terminals in accordance with variousembodiments.

FIG. 14 is a drawing illustrating an exemplary peer to peer timingstructure used by wireless terminals in accordance with variousembodiments.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a wirelesscommunications device, e.g., a wireless terminal such as a mobile nodesupporting peer to peer communications and using OFDM signaling, inaccordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 16 is a drawing of an exemplary peer to peer timing structure inaccordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 17 illustrates exemplary air link resources corresponding to anexemplary traffic interval of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 includes an exemplary peer to peer timing structure and anexemplary flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a wirelessterminal, e.g., a mobile node supporting peer to peer operations, inaccordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 19 is a drawing illustrating the refinement of monitoring, by awireless terminal, as a function of peer discovery operations and pagingoperations in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 20 is a drawing illustrating an example corresponding to FIG. 19and further illustrating that the wireless terminal determines a portionor portions of the traffic control resources to use as a function of aconnection identifier list.

FIG. 21 is an alternative to FIG. 20 for an exemplary embodiment usingCDMA signaling.

FIG. 22 is a variation on the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 20illustrating an embodiment in which the position of the OFDM air linktraffic control resources associated with an active connection pairremains fixed for multiple traffic control portions.

FIG. 23 is a variation on the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 20illustrating an embodiment in which the position of the OFDM air linktraffic control resources associated with an active connection pairvaries between multiple traffic control portions.

FIG. 24 comprising the combination of FIG. 24A and FIG. 24B is aflowchart of an exemplary method of operating a first communicationsdevice in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a firstcommunications device to support communications with multiple peerwireless communications devices including a second communications deviceand a third communications device in accordance with variousembodiments.

FIG. 26 is a drawing of an exemplary wireless communications systemsupporting peer to peer communications in accordance with variousembodiments.

FIG. 27 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device, e.g., mobilenode supporting peer to peer communications in accordance with variousembodiments.

FIG. 28 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device, e.g., mobilenode supporting peer to peer communications in accordance with variousembodiments.

FIG. 29 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device, e.g., mobilenode supporting peer to peer communications, in accordance with variousembodiments.

FIG. 30 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device, e.g., mobilenode supporting peer to peer communications, in accordance with variousembodiments.

FIG. 31 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device, e.g., mobilenode supporting peer to peer communications, in accordance with variousembodiments.

FIG. 32 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device, e.g., mobilenode supporting peer to peer communications in accordance with variousembodiments.

FIG. 33 is a drawing of an exemplary peer to peer communications networkin accordance with various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is drawing of an exemplary recurring peer to peer communicationssystem timing structure 100 in accordance with various embodiments. Theexemplary timing structure 100 includes a plurality of different typesof slots including a peer discovery slot type, a timing synchronizationslot type, a paging slot type, and a traffic slot type. In someembodiments, a timing synchronization slot is included as part of a peerdiscovery slot. In some other embodiments, a timing synchronization slotis non-overlapping with a timing synchronization slot, e.g., a timingsynchronization slot follows a peer discovery slot.

A first iteration of the exemplary recurring peer to peer communicationssystem timing structure 100, which starts at time mark reference 102,has a timing structure repeat interval 122, includes peer discovery slot104, timing synchronization slot 106, paging slot 108, traffic slot 110,traffic slot 112, paging slot 114 and traffic slot 116. A seconditeration of the exemplary recurring peer to peer communication systemtiming structure has the same set of slot types in the same order. Thesecond iteration of the exemplary recurring peer to peer communicationsystem timing structure starts at time mark reference 102′ and includespeer discovery slot 118 and timing synchronization slot 120.

The duration of the timing structure repeat interval 122 is much largerthan the duration of any individual slot. The duration of the timingstructure repeat time interval is, e.g., 1 minute in duration. Theduration of the peer discovery time interval 124 is, e.g., 2 or 3milli-seconds in duration. The duration of the time between successivepaging slots 126 is, e.g., 1 sec in duration. In various embodimentswith regard to one iteration of the timing structure, the number of peerdiscovery slots is less than the number of paging slots, and the numberof paging slots is less than or equal to the number of traffic slots. Insome embodiments, there is only one peer discovery slot per iteration ofthe recurring timing structure. In various embodiments with regard toone iteration of the timing structure, the amount of time allocated totraffic slots is greater than the combined amount of time allocated topeer discovery and paging slots. In some such embodiments, the amount oftime allocated to traffic is much larger than the combined amount oftime allocated to peer discovery and paging slots, e.g., at least 5times larger.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart 200 of an exemplary method of operating a wirelessterminal as part of a peer to peer communications system in accordancewith various embodiments. Operation starts in step 202, where thewireless terminal is powered on and initialized and proceeds to step204. In step 204, the wireless terminal checks for bandwidthavailability. Then, in step 206 the wireless terminal derives a timingreference and in step 208, the wireless terminal derives the timingstructure. Operation proceeds from step 208 to steps 210, 212 and 214,where the wireless terminal checks, on an ongoing basis, for differenttypes of predetermined slots being used in the peer to peercommunication system recurring timing structure, e.g., a timingstructure such as timing structure 100 illustrated in FIG. 1.

In step 210, the wireless terminal checks if it is time to perform peerdiscovery, and if it is, then operation proceeds from step 210 to step216. In step 212, the wireless terminal checks if it is time allocatedto perform paging operations, and if it is, then operation proceeds fromstep 212 to step 224. In step 214, the wireless terminal checks if it istime allocated to perform traffic operations, and if it is, thenoperation proceeds from step 214 to step 238.

In step 216, the wireless terminal performs peer discovery operations.Step 216 includes sub-steps 218, 220 and 222. In sub-step 218, thewireless terminal monitors to detect beacon signals from other peernodes in the vicinity, and then in sub-step 220 the wireless terminalidentifies wireless terminal and/or users associated with the receivedbeacon signals. Operation proceeds from sub-step 220 to sub-step 222. Insub-step 222, the wireless terminal updates a local vicinity peer nodepresent list as a function of determined wireless terminal and/or useridentification information. In various embodiments, in at least someiterations of step 216, the wireless terminal, in addition to or inplace of sub-steps in step 216, transmits a beacon signal to announceits presence to other wireless terminals in the vicinity.

In step 224, the wireless terminal performs paging related operations.Step 224 includes sub-steps 226, 228, 230, 232, 234 and 236. Differentsub-steps may be, and sometimes are, performed at different times, e.g.,in response to wireless terminal needs and/or interests and/or as afunction of attributes of a particular paging slot, e.g., informationidentifying wireless terminals which can be paged in that particularslot. In sub-step 226, the wireless terminal checks for incoming pages.Operation proceeds from step 226 to step 228, where the wirelessterminal checks the detected incoming pages and determines if thewireless terminal is being paged. If the wireless terminal determinesthat it is being paged, then operation proceeds from sub-step 228 tosub-step 236. In sub-step 230, the wireless terminal generates a page,and then in sub-step 232 the wireless terminal transmits the page.Operation proceeds from sub-step 232 to sub-step 234, in which thewireless terminal monitors for a page response. If a page response isdetected by the wireless terminal, then operation proceeds from sub-step234 to sub-step 236. In sub-step 236, the wireless terminal sets up anactive connection. The active connection set-up includes, e.g., thecommunication of a connection identifier.

Returning to step 238, in step 238, the wireless terminal determines ifthere is an active connection, and if there is then operation proceedsto step 240, where the wireless terminal performs traffic operations. Ifthere is not a current active connection, then the wireless terminal, insome embodiments, performs no further action with regard to the trafficslot, e.g., the wireless terminal goes into a power saving mode withregard to traffic slot. Step 240 includes sub-steps 242, 244 246 and248. In sub-step 242, the wireless terminal follows traffic protocolrules to receive and/or send traffic related signals including user datasignals. In sub-step 244, the wireless terminal performs timermanagement operations and in sub-step 246, the wireless terminal decideswhether or not there is additional traffic to be communicated. If thewireless terminal determines in sub-step 246 that there is no additionaltraffic, then operation proceeds to sub-step 248 where the wirelessterminal implements the tear down of the active connection. If there isstill additional traffic to be communicated the active connection isleft intact, e.g., and additional traffic can be communicated during asubsequent traffic slot.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart 300 of an exemplary method of operating a firstcommunications device, e.g., a mobile node using OFDM signaling andsupporting peer to peer communications, in accordance with variousembodiments. Operation starts in step 302, where the firstcommunications device is powered on and initialized and proceeds to step304, where the first communications device determines a time referencepoint. Operation proceeds from step 304 to step 306, in which the firstcommunications device accesses stored timing structure information usedto determine recurring peer discovery time intervals and trafficintervals. In various embodiments, the accessed stored timinginformation further includes information used to determine recurringpaging intervals. In various embodiments, the stored timing structureinformation indicates that multiple paging time intervals occur betweenpeer discovery time intervals during at least one period of time forwhich timing structure information is stored. In some embodiments, thetraffic intervals occupy more time than the time occupied by thecombination of paging time intervals and peer discovery time intervalsduring one iteration of a communications timing structure defined bysaid stored timing structure information. Operation proceeds from step306 to step 308. In step 308, the first wireless communication deviceperforms a peer to peer timing synchronization operation during a peerdiscovery time interval. In some other embodiments, the first wirelessterminal performs peer to peer timing synchronization operation during atiming/synchronization time interval following a peer discovery timeinterval. Operation proceeds from step 308 to step 310. In step 310, thefirst wireless communications device performs paging operations duringpaging intervals determined to occur at points in time relative to saidtime reference point.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart 400 of an exemplary method of operating a firstwireless communications device, e.g., a wireless terminal such as amobile node supporting peer to peer operations and using OFDM signaling,in accordance with various embodiments. Operation starts in step 402,where the first wireless communications device is powered on andinitialized and proceeds to step 404. In step 404, the first wirelesscommunications device determines a time reference point. Step 404includes sub-steps 406 and 408. In sub-step 406, the first wirelesscommunications device receives a broadcast signal from a device, saiddevice being different from the first wireless communications device,said device being one of: i) a satellite, ii) a base station in acellular network, and iii) a beacon transmitter that doesn't transmituser data. In some other embodiments, the received broadcast signal isfrom one of: i) a broadcast transmitter broadcasting a government orinternational body defined reference signal and ii) a broadcasttransmitter transmitting a commercial broadcast signal such as areference signal used in television and/or radio signals. Operationproceeds from sub-step 406 to sub-step 408. In sub-step 408, the firstwireless communications device uses the received broadcast signal todetermine the time reference point. Operation proceeds from step 404 tostep 410.

In step 410, the first communications device accesses stored timingstructure information used to determine recurring peer discovery timeintervals and traffic intervals. In various embodiments, the accessedstored timing structure information also indicates where recurringtiming synchronization intervals occur relative to the determined timereference point. Operation proceeds from step 410 to step 412. In step412, the first wireless communications device determines at least one ofpeer to peer receive symbol timing and peer to peer transmit symboltiming based on said timing reference point. Then, in step 414, thefirst wireless communications device detects a signal transmitted by asecond wireless communications device, e.g., another mobile node. Thedetected signal is, e.g., a traffic signal used to communicate userdata. Alternatively, the detected signal is, e.g., a predeterminedbroadcast signal. The predetermined broadcast signal is, in someembodiments, one of: (i) a multi-tone time varying signal and (ii) apredetermined time varying PN sequence signal. In some embodiments, thepredetermined broadcast signal is a signal received from the secondwireless communications device in one of a plurality of recurring timingsynchronization intervals. Operation proceeds from step 414 to step 416.In step 416, the wireless terminal adjusts at least one of peer to peerreceive symbol timing and peer to peer transmit symbol timing as afunction of the detected signal from step 414. Operation proceeds fromstep 416 to step 418. In step 418, the wireless terminal transmits apredetermined broadcast signal in a time interval having a predeterminedoffset from said reference point. In some embodiments, the broadcastsignal is a beacon signal annunciating the first wireless communicationdevice's presence and is transmitted in a peer discovery interval.

FIG. 5 comprising the combination of FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B, FIG. 5C and FIG.5D is a flowchart 500 of an exemplary method of operating a firstwireless communications device, e.g., a wireless terminal such as amobile node supporting peer to peer communications and using OFDMsignaling, in accordance with various embodiments. Operation starts instep 502, where the first wireless communications device is powered onand initialized and proceeds to step 504. In step 504, the firstwireless communications device determines a time reference point, andthen in step 506 the first wireless communications device accessesstored timing structure information used to determine recurring peerdiscovery time intervals and traffic intervals. In various embodiments,the accessed stored timing structure information also includesinformation used to determine recurring paging time intervals. Operationproceeds from step 506 to step 508, in which the first wirelesscommunications device determines recurring peer discovery time intervalsand traffic intervals using said accessed stored timing structureinformation. Operation proceeds from step 508 to step 510. In step 510,the first wireless communications device determines recurring pagingintervals using said accessed stored timing structure information.Operation proceeds from step 510 to step 512.

In step 512, the first wireless communications device receives abroadcast signal from a second wireless communications device during apeer discovery time interval. In various embodiments, the secondwireless communications device is another wireless terminal such amobile node supporting peer to peer communications and using OFDMsignaling. In some embodiments, the received broadcast signal is a userbeacon signal. Then, in step 514, the first wireless communicationsdevice recovers an identifier from the received broadcast signal, saididentifier being one of a device identifier and a user identifier, andin step 516, the first wireless communications device stores saidrecovered identifier in memory. Operation proceeds from step 516 tosteps 518, 520 and, via connecting node A 522 to step 564.

In step 518, the first wireless communications device starts a timerused to determine when a predetermined period of time, e.g., a lifetimeassociated with said recovered identifier of step 514, has expired.Operation proceeds from step 518 to step 524. In step 524, the firstwireless communications device determines if a signal from said secondwireless communications device has been detected within a period oftime. If a signal is detected before the timer expires, then operationproceeds from step 524 to step 528, where the first wirelesscommunications device updates the timer, e.g., restarts the timer. If asignal is not detected and the timer expires, then operation proceedsfrom step 524 to step 526, where the first wireless communicationsdevice deletes said recovered identifier, which was stored in step 516,from memory.

Returning to step 520, in step 520, the first wireless communicationsdevice monitors to detect an event used to trigger sending of a pagingmessage to the second wireless communications device. Operation proceedsfrom step 520 to step 530 for a detected event. In step 530, the firstwireless communications device selects between sending a peer to peerpage to said second wireless communications device or sending a pagethrough another device, e.g., a base station. Step 530 includessub-steps 532 and 536. In sub-step 532, the first wirelesscommunications device determines if said second wireless communicationsdevice is pagable by a peer to peer page. Sub-step 532 includes sub-step534, in which the first wireless communications device checks a list ofstored identifiers associated with devices, said list being stored inmemory. Operation proceeds from sub-step 532 to sub-step 536, in whichthe first wireless communications device proceeds differently dependingon the determination of sub-step 532. If it is determined in sub-step532 that the second wireless communications device is pagable by a peerto peer page, then operation proceeds from sub-step 536, via connectingnode B 538, to step 542. If it is determined in sub-step 532 that thesecond wireless communications device is not pagable by a peer to peerpage, then operation proceeds from sub-step 536, via connecting node C540, to step 554.

In step 542, the first wireless communications device determines one ofsaid determined paging intervals to be used for transmitting a page as afunction of said stored identifier. Operation proceeds from step 542 tostep 544. In step 544, the first wireless communications devicetransmits a direct page to said second wireless communications device.Step 544 includes sub-step 546, in which the first wirelesscommunications device transmits a paging message to the second wirelesscommunications device during an occurrence of one of the determinedpaging intervals. Operation proceeds from step 544 to step 548.

In step 548, the first wireless communications device participates inthe communication of peer to peer session establishment informationbetween the first and second wireless communications devices. Step 548includes one or more of sub-steps 550 and 552. In sub-step 550 the firstwireless communications device sends peer to peer session establishmentinformation, wherein said peer to peer session establishment informationincludes at least one of: a session identifier, session quality ofservice information, and an indicator of the type of traffic to becommunicated during the session. In sub-step 552 the first wirelesscommunications device receives peer to peer session establishmentinformation, wherein said peer to peer session establishment informationincludes at least one of: a session identifier, session quality ofservice information, and an indicator of the type of traffic to becommunicated during the session. Operation proceeds from step 548 viaconnecting node D 562 to step 582.

Returning to step 554, in step 554, the first wireless communicationsdevice transmits a wide area page to another node, e.g., a base station,to initiate a page to the second communications device. Operationproceeds from step 554 to step 556.

In step 556, the first wireless communications device participates inthe communication of peer to peer session establishment informationbetween the first and second wireless communications devices. Step 556includes one or more of sub-steps 558 and 560. In sub-step 558 the firstwireless communications device sends peer to peer session establishmentinformation, wherein said peer to peer session establishment informationincludes at least one of: a session identifier, session quality ofservice information, and an indicator of the type of traffic to becommunicated during the session. In sub-step 560 the first wirelesscommunications device receives peer to peer session establishmentinformation, wherein said peer to peer session establishment informationincludes at least one of: a session identifier, session quality ofservice information, and an indicator of the type of traffic to becommunicated during the session. Operation proceeds from step 556 viaconnecting node D 562 to step 582.

In step 564, the first wireless communications device determines whichof said recurring paging intervals can be used to direct pages to saidfirst wireless communications device. Operation proceeds from step 564to step 566. In step 566, the first wireless communications devicemonitors during a determined paging interval in which a page can bedirected to the first wireless communications device for pages directedto the first wireless communications device. Operation proceeds fromstep 566 to step 568. In step 568, the wireless terminal determines if apage was received directed to the first wireless communications deviceand proceeds as a function of the determination. If a page was receiveddirected to the first wireless communications device, then operationproceeds from step 568 to step 570; otherwise operation proceeds fromstep 568 to step 572.

In step 570, the first wireless communications device transmits a pageresponse signal. Operation proceeds from step 570 to step 574. In step574, the first wireless communications device participates in thecommunication of peer to peer session establishment information betweenthe first and second wireless communications devices. Step 574 includesone or more of sub-steps 576 and 578. In sub-step 576 the first wirelesscommunications device sends peer to peer session establishmentinformation, wherein said peer to peer session establishment informationincludes at least one of: a session identifier, session quality ofservice information, and an indicator of the type of traffic to becommunicated during the session. In sub-step 578 the first wirelesscommunications device receives peer to peer session establishmentinformation, wherein said peer to peer session establishment informationincludes at least one of: a session identifier, session quality ofservice information, and an indicator of the type of traffic to becommunicated during the session. Operation proceeds from step 574 viaconnecting node D 562 to step 582.

Returning to step 572, in step 572, the first wireless communicationsdevice is operated to conserve power. Step 572 includes sub-step 580, inwhich the first wireless communications device is controlled to refrainfrom monitoring for traffic data during at least one traffic intervalfollowing said paging interval in which no page was detected directed tothe said first wireless communications device and prior to theoccurrence of another paging interval. Operation proceeds from step 572to step 566, where the first wireless communications device monitorsanother paging interval.

Returning to step 582, in step 582, the first wireless communicationsdevice participates in the communication of user data between the firstand second wireless communications devices via a direct wirelesscommunications link during one of the traffic intervals. Step 582includes one or more of sub-steps 584 and 586. In sub-step 584, thefirst wireless communications device receives user data, said user dataincluding one of text data, image data, voice data, and applicationdata. In sub-step 586, the first wireless communications device sendsuser data, said user data including one of text data, image data, voicedata, and application data.

FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating an exemplary peer to peer timingstructure 600 used by wireless terminals in accordance with variousembodiments. Exemplary peer to peer timing structure 600 includes a peerdiscovery time interval 602 followed by a traffic interval 604. Then,the pattern repeats as illustrated by peer discovery time interval 602′followed by traffic interval 604′. Each peer discovery interval (602,602′) has a duration of 9 msec, while each traffic interval (604, 604′)has a duration of 900 msec. The timing structure repeat interval 606 is909 msec.

It may be observed that the duration of the peer discovery interval,which is 9 msec, is less than 10 msec. It may also be observed that thetotal time allocated to traffic intervals is 100 times the total timeallocated to peer discovery intervals. In some other embodiments, thetotal time allocated to traffic intervals is more than 100 times thetotal time allocated to peer discovery intervals.

FIG. 7 is a drawing illustrating an exemplary peer to peer timingstructure 700 used by wireless terminals in accordance with variousembodiments. Exemplary peer to peer timing structure 700 includes a peerdiscovery time interval 702 followed by ten traffic intervals (trafficinterval 1 704, . . . , traffic interval 10 706). Then, the patternrepeats as illustrated by peer discovery time interval 702′ followed byten traffic intervals (traffic interval 1 704′, . . . , trafficintervals 10 706′). Each peer discovery interval (702, 702′) has aduration of 3 msec, while each traffic interval (704, . . . , 706, 704′,. . . , 706′) has a duration of 30 msec. The timing structure repeatinterval 708 is 303 msec, and the composite traffic time 710 in oneiteration of the recurring timing structure is 300 msec.

It may be observed that the duration of the peer discovery interval,which is 3 msec, is less than 10 msec. It may also be observed that thetotal time allocated to traffic intervals is 100 times the total timeallocated to peer discovery intervals. In some other embodiments, thetotal time allocated to traffic intervals is more than 100 times thetotal time allocated to peer discovery intervals. It may also beobserved that the are 10 times as many traffic time intervals as thereare peer discovery intervals in one iteration of the recurring timingstructure. In some other embodiments, there are more than 10 times asmany traffic time intervals as there are peer discovery intervals in oneiteration of the recurring timing structure.

FIG. 8 is a drawing illustrating an exemplary peer to peer timingstructure 800 used by wireless terminals in accordance with variousembodiments. Exemplary peer to peer timing structure 800 includes a peerdiscovery time interval 802 followed by 100 traffic intervals (trafficinterval 1 804, traffic interval 2 806, . . . , traffic interval 100808). Then, the pattern repeats as illustrated by peer discovery timeinterval 802′ followed by traffic intervals (traffic interval 1 804′,traffic interval 2 806′, . . . , traffic interval 100 808′). Each peerdiscovery interval (802, 802′) has a duration of 3 msec, and eachtraffic interval (804, 806, . . . , 808, 804′, 806′, . . . 808′) has aduration of 3 msec. The timing structure repeat interval 810 is 303msec, and the composite traffic time 812 in one iteration of therecurring timing structure is 300 msec.

It may be observed that the duration of the peer discovery interval,which is 3 msec, is less than 10 msec. The duration of a trafficinterval is 3 msec; therefore, the duration of a peer discovery intervaland the duration of a traffic interval is the same. It may also beobserved that the total time allocated to traffic intervals is 100 timesthe total time allocated to peer discovery intervals. In some otherembodiments, the total time allocated to traffic intervals is more than100 times the total time allocated to peer discovery intervals. It maybe observed there are 100 times as many traffic time intervals as thereare peer discovery intervals in one iteration of the recurring timingstructure. In various embodiments, there are at least 10 times as manytraffic intervals as there are peer discovery intervals in one iterationof the recurring timing structure.

FIG. 9 is a drawing illustrating an exemplary peer to peer timingstructure 900 used by wireless terminals in accordance with variousembodiments. Exemplary peer to peer timing structure 900 includes a peerdiscovery time interval 902 followed by ten traffic intervals (trafficinterval 1 904, . . . , traffic interval 10 906). Then, the patternrepeats as illustrated by peer discovery time interval 902′ followed bytraffic intervals (traffic interval 1 904′ . . . , traffic interval 10906′). Each peer discovery interval (902, 902′) has a duration of 3msec, and each traffic interval (904, . . . , 906, 904′, . . . , 906′)has a duration of 100 msec. The timing structure repeat interval 908 is1003 msec, and the composite traffic time 910 in one iteration of therecurring timing structure is 1 sec.

It may be observed that the duration of the peer discovery interval,which is 3 msec, is less than 10 msec. It may also be observed that thetotal time allocated to traffic intervals is approximately 333 times thetotal time allocated to peer discovery intervals. In some otherembodiments, the total time allocated to traffic intervals is more than100 times the total time allocated to peer discovery intervals. It maybe observed there are 10 times as many traffic time intervals as thereare peer discovery intervals in one iteration of the recurring timingstructure. In various embodiments, there are more than 10 times as manytraffic intervals as there are peer discovery intervals in one iterationof the recurring timing structure. It may also be observed that the gaptime between two successive peer discovery intervals 912 is 1 sec. Insome other embodiments, the gap time between two successive peerdiscovery intervals is greater than 1 sec.

FIG. 10 is a drawing illustrating an exemplary peer to peer timingstructure 1000 used by wireless terminals in accordance with variousembodiments. Exemplary peer to peer timing structure 1000 includes apeer discovery time interval 1002 followed by a timing synchronizationinterval 1004, which is followed by a traffic interval 1006. Then, thepattern repeats as illustrated by peer discovery time interval 1002′followed by timing synchronization interval 1004′ followed by trafficinterval 1006′. Each peer discovery interval (1002, 1002′) has aduration of 3 msec, each timing synchronization interval (1004, 1004′)has a duration of 3 msec and each traffic interval (1006, . . . , 1006′)has a duration of 1 sec. The timing structure repeat interval 1008 is1006 msec.

It may be observed that the duration of the peer discovery interval,which is 3 msec, is less than 10 msec. In various embodiments, thetiming synchronization intervals is a time interval used by the firstwireless terminal to collect signal timing data from a signal receivedfrom a peer device, said signal timing data being for use in adjustingthe first wireless terminal's signal timing.

FIG. 11 is a drawing illustrating an exemplary peer to peer timingstructure 1100 used by wireless terminals in accordance with variousembodiments. Exemplary peer to peer timing structure 1100 includes apeer discovery time interval 1102 followed by a paging interval 1104,which is followed by a traffic interval 1106. Then, the pattern repeatsas illustrated by peer discovery time interval 1102′ followed by timingpaging interval 1104′ followed by traffic interval 1106′. Each peerdiscovery interval (1102, 1102′) has a duration of 9 msec, each paginginterval (1104, 1104′) has a duration of 9 msec and each trafficinterval (1106, . . . , 1106′) has a duration of 90 msec. The timingstructure repeat interval 1008 is 108 msec.

It may be observed that the duration of the peer discovery interval,which is 9 msec, is less than 10 msec. It may also be observed that theduration of the paging interval, which is 9 msec, is less than 10 msec.The total time allocated to traffic intervals is 10 times the total timeallocated to paging intervals. In some other embodiments, the total timeallocated to traffic intervals is more than 10 times the total timeallocated to paging intervals.

FIG. 12 is a drawing illustrating an exemplary peer to peer timingstructure 1200 used by wireless terminals in accordance with variousembodiments. Exemplary peer to peer timing structure 1200 includes apeer discovery time interval 1202 followed by a first paging interval,paging interval 1 1204, which is followed by ten traffic intervals(traffic interval 1 1206, . . . , traffic interval 10 1208), which isfollowed by a second paging interval, paging interval 2 1210, which isfollowed by 10 additional traffic intervals (traffic interval 11 1212, .. . , traffic interval 20 1214). Then, the pattern repeats starting withpeer discovery intervals 1202′. Each peer discovery interval (1202,1202′) has a duration of 3 msec, each paging interval (1204, 1210) has aduration of 9 msec and each traffic interval (1206, . . . , 1208, 1212,. . . , 1214) has a duration of 10 msec. The timing structure repeatinterval 1216 is 221 msec. The gap between paging intervals 1218 is 100msec.

It may be observed that the duration of the peer discovery interval,which is 3 msec, is less than 10 msec. It may also be observed that theduration of the paging interval, which is 9 msec, is less than 10 msec.The total time allocated to traffic intervals is approximately 11 timesthe total time allocated to paging intervals. In some embodiments, thetotal time allocated to traffic intervals is at least 10 times the totaltime allocated to paging intervals. Each of the traffic intervals (1206,. . . , 1208, 1212, . . . , 1214) has a duration which is longer thanthe duration of any of the paging intervals (1204, 1210). The pagingintervals have substantially the same duration as the traffic intervals.There are ten times as many traffic intervals as there are pagingintervals in one iteration of the recurring timing structure.

FIG. 13 is a drawing illustrating an exemplary peer to peer timingstructure 1300 used by wireless terminals in accordance with variousembodiments. Exemplary peer to peer timing structure 1300 includes apeer discovery time interval 1302 followed by a first paging interval,paging interval 1 1304, which is followed by twelve traffic intervals(traffic interval 1 1306, . . . , traffic interval 12 1308), which isfollowed by a second paging interval, paging interval 2 1310, which isfollowed by 12 additional traffic intervals (traffic interval 13 1312, .. . , traffic interval 24 1314). Then, the pattern repeats starting withpeer discovery intervals 1302′. Each peer discovery interval (1302,1302′) has a duration of 9 msec, each paging interval (1304, 1310) has aduration of 9 msec and each traffic interval (1306, . . . , 1308, 1312,. . . , 1314) has a duration of 9 msec. The timing structure repeatinterval 1316 is 243 msec. The gap between paging intervals 1318 is 108msec.

It may be observed that the duration of the peer discovery interval,which is 9 msec, is less than 10 msec. It may also be observed that theduration of the paging interval, which is 9 msec, is less than 10 msec.The total time allocated to traffic intervals is 12 times the total timeallocated to paging intervals. In some embodiments, the total timeallocated to traffic intervals is at least 10 times the total timeallocated to paging intervals. Each of the traffic intervals (1306, . .. , 1308, 1312, . . . , 1314) has a duration which is the same as theduration of a paging interval. There are twelve times as many trafficintervals as there are paging intervals in one iteration of therecurring timing structure. In various embodiments, there are at least10 times as many traffic intervals as there are paging intervals in oneiteration of the timing structure.

FIG. 14 is a drawing illustrating an exemplary peer to peer timingstructure 1400 used by wireless terminals in accordance with variousembodiments. In this exemplary embodiment, one recurring iteration ofthe timing structure includes a predetermined fixed number of equalduration time slots, e.g., 24062 indexed time slots (slot 1 1402, slot 21404, slot 3, 1406, slot 4 1408, slot 5 1410, . . . , slot 403 1412,slot 404 1414, slot 405 1416, slot 406 1418, . . . , slot 804 1420, . .. , slot 23662 1422, slot 23663 1424, slot 23664 1426, . . . , slot24062 1428). A predetermined pattern of different types of intervalsassociated with those slots shall now be described. Exemplary peer topeer timing structure 1400 includes a peer discovery time interval 1452followed by a timing synchronization interval 1454, followed by a firstpaging interval, paging interval 1 1456, which is followed by fourhundred traffic intervals (traffic interval 1 1458, traffic interval 21460, . . . , traffic interval 400 1462), which is followed by a secondpaging interval, paging interval 2 1464, which is followed by fourhundred additional traffic intervals (traffic interval 401 1466, trafficinterval 402 1468, . . . , traffic interval 800 1470). This sequence ofa paging interval followed by a set of 400 traffic intervals repeats fora total of 60 sets ending with paging interval 60 1472 followed by 400traffic intervals (traffic interval 23601 1474, traffic interval 236021476, . . . , traffic interval 24000 1478). Then, the pattern repeatsstarting with peer discovery interval 1452′ corresponding to slot 11402′, timing synchronization interval 1454′ corresponding to slot 21404′, paging interval 1 1456′ corresponding to slot 3 1406′, trafficinterval 1 1458′ corresponding to slot 4 1408′, etc. Each peer discoveryinterval (1452, 1452′) has a duration 1484 of 2.5 msec. Each timingsynchronization interval (1454, 1454′) has a duration 1486 of 2.5 msec.Each paging interval (1456, 1464, . . . , 1472, 1456′) has a duration1488 of 2.5 msec. Each traffic interval (1458, 1460, . . . , 1462, 1466,1468, . . . , 1470, 1474, 1476, . . . , 1478, 1458′) has a duration of2.5 msec. The timing structure repeat interval 1480 is 60.155 sec. Thetime between starts of successive paging slots 1482 is 1.0025 sec forpaging slots within the same iteration of the recurring timingstructure. The gap between successive paging slots is 1 sec for pagingslots within the same iteration of the recurring timing structure. Thetime between starts of successive paging slots 1483 is 1.0075 msec forpaging slots within different iterations of the recurring timingstructure. The gap between successive paging slots is 1.0050 sec forpaging slots within different iterations of the recurring timingstructure.

The peer discovery intervals, which are 2.5 msec, are less than 10 msec.The paging intervals, which are 2.5 msec, are less than 10 msec. Thereare 24000 times as many traffic intervals as there are peer discoveryintervals; therefore there are at least 10 times as many trafficintervals as there are peer discovery intervals. The total timeallocated to traffic intervals is 24000 times the time allocated to peerdiscovery intervals; therefore there are at least 100 times as much timeallocated to traffic intervals as allocated to peer discovery intervals.There are 400 times as many traffic intervals as there are pagingintervals; therefore, there are at least 10 times the number of trafficintervals as there are paging intervals. The total time allocated totraffic intervals is 400 times the time allocated to peer discoveryintervals; therefore there are at least 10 times as much time allocatedto traffic intervals as allocated to peer discovery intervals. The timegap between two successive paging intervals is 1.0 sec for pagingintervals within the same iteration of the recurring timing structure,and the gap between two successive paging intervals is 1.0050 sec forpaging intervals in two different iterations of the recurring timingstructure, which are both at least 100 msec. The time allocated forpaging is 60 times the time allocated for peer discovery, which is atleast twice the time allocated for peer discovery.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a wirelesscommunications device, e.g., a wireless terminal such as a mobile nodesupporting peer to peer communications and using OFDM signaling, inaccordance with various embodiments. Operation starts in step 1502,where the wireless communications device is powered on and initializedand proceeds to step 1504. In step 1504, the wireless communicationsdevice accesses stored peer to peer timing structure information, saidstored peer to peer timing structure information defining a pattern ofdifferent types of time intervals, said different types of timeintervals including at least a peer discovery time interval and atraffic interval. Other types of intervals include one or more of atiming synchronization interval and a paging interval. Operationproceeds from step 1504 to step 1506. Various exemplary peer to peertiming structures are illustrated in and described with respect to FIGS.1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14.

In step 1506, the wireless communications device uses said accessedstored peer to peer timing structure information in determining anoperation to be performed during a current time period.

In various embodiments, the pattern of different types of time intervalsrepeats over time. In some such embodiments, the pattern has apredetermined periodicity and wherein each period includes at least onepeer discovery interval and at least one traffic interval. In some suchembodiments, the duration of each peer discovery interval is less than10 msec. In some such embodiments, the peer discovery interval durationis within the approximate range of 2 to 3 msec.

In various embodiments, the total time allocated to traffic intervals isat least 100 times the total time allocated to peer discovery intervals.In some embodiments, each of a plurality of traffic intervals includedin each period has a duration which is longer than any of the peerdiscovery intervals in said period. In various embodiments, each timeperiod includes at least 10 times as many traffic time intervals as peerdiscovery time intervals.

The traffic and peer discovery intervals, in some embodiments, have thesame or substantially the same duration, and there are more traffic timeintervals than peer discovery time intervals.

In some embodiments, two successive peer discovery time intervals in atime period including two repetitions of the recurring pattern areseparated in time by a gap of at least 1 second.

In various embodiments, each period further includes a timingsynchronization interval. The timing synchronization interval is, invarious embodiments, a time interval for use by a wireless terminal tocollect signal timing data from a signal received from a peer device,said signal timing data being for use in adjusting the wirelessterminal's symbol timing.

In various embodiments, each period includes a paging interval, e.g., apaging interval having a duration of less than 10 msec. In someembodiments, pagings intervals have an approximate duration within therange of 2 to 3 msec. In some embodiments, the total time allocated totraffic intervals is at least 10 times the total time allocated topaging intervals.

Some embodiments have a single traffic interval in one iteration of therecurring timing structure, while in other embodiments there are aplurality of traffic intervals in one iteration of the recurring timingstructure. In various embodiments, each of a plurality of trafficintervals included in each period has a duration which is longer thanthe duration of any of the paging intervals in the period, wherein theperiod is one iteration of the recurring timing structure.

In some embodiments, there are more traffic intervals than there arepaging intervals, e.g., at least 10 times the number of trafficintervals as the number of paging intervals in one iteration of arecurring timing structure. In some embodiments, there are more trafficintervals than there are paging intervals, and the traffic and pagingintervals have the same or substantially the same duration.

The gap between two successive paging intervals, in various embodiments,are separated in time by at least 100 msec. In some embodiments, thetotal amount of time allocated to paging intervals is at least twice thetotal amount of time allocated to peer discovery intervals in oneiteration of a recurring timing structure.

FIG. 16 is a drawing of an exemplary peer to peer timing structure 1600in accordance with various embodiments. Exemplary peer to peer timingstructure 1600 has a timing structure repeat interval 1608. Eachiteration of the peer to peer timing structure includes a peer discoveryinterval 1602, a paging interval 1604 and a traffic interval 1606.

FIG. 17 illustrates exemplary air link resources corresponding to theexemplary traffic interval 1606 of FIG. 16. Drawing 1700, which includesa vertical axis 1702 representing frequency and a horizontal axis 1704representing time, illustrates exemplary traffic interval air linkresources 1706 corresponding to traffic interval 1606. The trafficinterval air link resources 1706 include traffic control componentresources 1708 and traffic component resources 1710. Traffic controlcomponent resources are used for operations including user scheduling,interference management and rate scheduling. User scheduling operationsinclude requesting to transmit user data and responding to a request totransmit user data. Interference management includes communicatingsignals used for SNR measurements and communicating SNR measurementdata. Rate scheduling includes communicating data rate informationand/or power information corresponding to user traffic. Trafficcomponent resources are used for communicating user data between peers,e.g., communicating voice, audio, text, file, and/or image data.

Alternatively, the traffic interval air link resources may be, andsometimes are partitioned in a different manner. Exemplary trafficinterval air link resources 1706′ represent one such alternativeembodiment. In this embodiment, the traffic interval air link resourcesinclude a plurality of distinct traffic control portions and trafficportions (traffic control portion 1 1712, traffic portion 1 1714,traffic control portion 2 1716, traffic portion 2 1718, traffic controlportion 3 1720, traffic portion 3 1722). The traffic control and trafficportions alternate in time in traffic interval air link resources 1706′.Exemplary traffic interval air link resources 1706″ represent anotheralternative embodiment. In this embodiment, the traffic interval airlink resources include a plurality of distinct traffic control portionsand traffic portions (traffic control portion 1 1724, traffic portion 11726, traffic control portion 2 1728, traffic portion 2 1730, trafficcontrol portion 3 1732, traffic portion 3 1734), at least some of whichat least partially overlap in time. In this example, traffic controlportion 2 1728 occurs concurrently with traffic portion 1 1726; andtraffic control portion 3 1732 occurs concurrently with traffic portion2 1730.

FIG. 18 includes exemplary peer to peer timing structure 1600 and anexemplary flowchart 1800 of an exemplary method of operating a wirelessterminal, e.g., a mobile node supporting peer to peer operations, inaccordance with various embodiments. Operation of the exemplary methodstarts in step 1802, where the wireless terminal is powered on andinitialized. Operation proceeds from start step 1802 to step 1804. Instep 1804, which is performed during peer discovery interval 1602, thewireless terminal transmits a signal, e.g., a beacon signal to signalits presence. Operation proceeds from step 1804 to step 1806, which isalso performed during peer discovery interval 1602, the wirelessterminal monitors to detect for peers, e.g., the wireless terminalmonitors to detect for beacon signals associated with peers. In someembodiments, step 1806 includes at times multiple disjoint monitoringportions with the transmit of step 1804 being performed between two ofthose disjoint monitoring portions. In some embodiments, the wirelessterminal performs one of step 1804 and step 1806 during a peer discoveryinterval iteration.

Operation proceeds from step 1806 to step 1808. In step 1808, thewireless terminal updates a list of peers in the vicinity as a functionof information obtained from the monitoring of step 1806. Operationproceeds from step 1808 to steps 1810 and step 1816.

In step 1810, which is performed during paging interval 1604, thewireless terminal monitors for pages from the peers on the list of step1808. Then, in step 1812, the wireless terminal processes receivedpaging messages and identifies peers on the list directing a page to thewireless terminal. Operation proceeds from step 1812 to step 1814 if apage has been detected which was directed to the wireless terminal;otherwise operation proceeds to steps 1822 and 1828. In step 1814, thewireless terminal determines a connection identifier for the pair of thewireless terminal and the peer which was directing the page to thewireless terminal. Operation proceeds from step 1814 to steps 1822 and1828.

Returning to step 1816, step 1816 is performed for a peer on the list ofstep 1808, which the wireless terminal wants to send a page. In step1816, the wireless terminal generates a page message to a peer on thelist. Operation proceeds from step 1816 to step 1818. In step 1818,which is performed during paging interval 1604, the wireless terminaltransmits the generated page message of step 1816. Then, in step 1820,the wireless terminal determines a connection identifier for the pair ofthe wireless terminal and peer to which the generated page is directed.Operation proceeds from step 1820 to steps 1822 and 1828.

In step 1822, the wireless terminal monitors traffic control resourcesassociated with the determined connection identifier or determinedconnection identifiers for a traffic request. If a request is received,operation proceeds from step 1822 to step 1824, where the wirelessterminal responds to the peer request, e.g., granting the request.Operation proceeds from step 1824 to step 1826, in response to a grantdecision. In step 1826, the wireless terminal receives traffic user datafrom the peer node which sent the request using a traffic data resource.

Returning to step 1828, step 1828 is performed if the wireless terminalwants to communicate user data to peer with which the wireless terminalhas a connection. In step 1828, the wireless terminal transmits, using atraffic control resource associated with the determined connectionidentifier a traffic request. Operation proceeds from step 1828 to step1830. In step 1830, the wireless terminal receives a response to therequest, e.g., a grant from the peer. Operation proceeds from step 1830to step 1832, in response to a received grant. In step 1832, thewireless terminal transmits traffic user data to the peer node, fromwhich it has sent a request, using a traffic data resource. Steps 1822,1824, 1826, 1828, 1830, and 1832 are performed during traffic interval1606.

FIG. 19 is a drawing 1900 illustrating the refinement of monitoring, bya wireless terminal, as a function of peer discovery operations andpaging operations in accordance with various embodiments. Block 1902illustrates that there are N wireless terminals in a peer to peercommunications system, e.g., N wireless terminals which can potentiallypower on and be in the same local vicinity and are implemented tosupport peer to peer communications in accordance with the peer to peercommunications system protocols. The N wireless terminals, in someembodiments, represent the total number of wireless terminals which haveregistered and are provisioned to be able to participate in the peer topeer communications networks of a service provider.

In block 1904, WT 1 peer discovery operations identify peers in itslocal vicinity and result in a list of N1 peers in vicinity, where N1≦N,and typically N1<<N. In block 1906, WT 1 paging operations identify Kactive connection peers and this results in a list of connectionidentifiers, where K≦N1, and typically K<<N1.

FIG. 20 a is drawing illustrating an example corresponding to FIG. 19and further illustrating that the wireless terminal determines a portionor portions of the traffic control resources to use as a function of aconnection identifier list. In this example, assume that there are 500exemplary wireless terminals in the peer to peer communications system,e.g., N=500. As part of wireless terminal 1's peer discovery operationsWT 1 forms peer discovery list 2002, which identifies that 8 peerwireless terminals (WTs corresponding to identifiers 3, 7, 23, 156, 196,200, 456 and 499) are in the local vicinity. In this example N1=8.

As part of WT 1's paging operations, WT 1 forms active connection list2004. Active connection list 2004 includes a first column 2006 whichidentifies wireless terminals from which WT 1 has received a page andwireless terminals to which WT 1 has sent a page. In this example, thenumber of K active connection peers=2, which are the wireless terminalscorresponding to identifiers 7 and 499. Active connection list 2004 alsoincludes a second column 2008 listing active connection identifiers.Active connection identifiers include an identifier corresponding to thepair of WT 1/WT 7 and an identifier corresponding to the pair of WT 1and WT 499.

Drawing 2010 includes a plot of frequency on the vertical axis 2012 vstime on the horizontal axis 2014 and is used to illustrate exemplaryOFDM traffic control resources 2016. Arrow 2018 indicates that theidentifier for the WT 1/7 pair identifier maps to resource 2020. Arrow2022 indicates that the identifier for the WT 1/499 pair maps to theresource 2024. Each air link resource unit represented by a small squarebox, e.g., air link resource 2020 is, e.g., a set of OFDM tone-symbols,where one OFDM tone-symbol is one OFDM tone for the duration of one OFDMsymbol transmission time period. In various embodiments, WT 1selectively monitors traffic control air link resources as a function ofan active connection list. For example, consider that the air linkresource units of traffic control resources 2016 are used for requestsfor traffic; however, in this embodiment at this time, WT 1 need onlymonitor resource units 2020 and 2024 to detect for a peer requesting tosend traffic to WT 1. This narrowing down of the traffic controlresources to monitor and process is advantageous in that it can reducethe amounts of false alarms and improper response signaling.

FIG. 21 is an alternative to FIG. 20 for an exemplary embodiment usingCDMA signaling. Exemplary WT 1 peer discovery list 2002 and exemplary WT1 active connection list 2004, have already been described with respectto FIG. 20. Drawing 2110 includes a plot of frequency on the verticalaxis 2112 vs time on the horizontal axis 2114 and is used to illustrateexemplary CDMA traffic control resources 2116. In this example,resources 2116 correspond to 64 different PN codes. Arrow 2118 indicatesthat the identifier for the WT 1/7 pair maps to PN code A. Arrow 2120indicates that the identifier for the WT 1/499 pair maps to PN code D.In this example, WT 1 need only monitor for two (PN code A and PN codeD) of the 64 different PN codes in the air link resource 2116.

FIG. 22 is a variation on the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 20illustrating an embodiment in which the position of the OFDM air linktraffic control resources associated with an active connection pairremains fixed for multiple traffic control portions. The multipletraffic control portions, in some embodiments, are included in the sametraffic interval. In some embodiments, the multiple control portions areincluded in different, e.g., successive traffic control intervals duringwhich the active connection remains intact. Active table connection list2004 has already been described with respect to FIG. 20.

Drawing 2200 includes a plot of frequency on the vertical axis 2202 vstime on the horizontal axis 2204 and is used to illustrate exemplaryOFDM traffic control resources (OFDM traffic control resource 1 2206,OFDM traffic control resource 2 2216). Arrow 2208 indicates that theidentifier for the WT 1/7 pair maps to resource unit 2210 in trafficcontrol resource 1 2206, while arrow 2218 indicates that the identifierfor the WT 1/7 pair maps to resource unit 2220 in traffic controlresource 2 2216. Arrow 2212 indicates that the identifier for the WT1/499 pair maps to resource unit 2214 in traffic control resource 12206, while arrow 2222 indicates that the identifier for the WT 1/499pair maps to resource unit 2224 in traffic control resource 2 2216.

It may be observed that air link resource unit 2210 and air linkresource unit 2220 occupy the same relative position in traffic controlresource 1 2206 and traffic control resource 2 2216, respectively.Similarly, air link resource unit 2214 and air link resource unit 2224occupy the same relative position in traffic control resource 1 2206 andtraffic control resource 2 2216, respectively.

FIG. 23 is a variation on the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 20illustrating an embodiment in which the position of the OFDM air linktraffic control resources associated with an active connection pairvaries between multiple traffic control portions. The multiple trafficcontrol portions, in some embodiments, are included in the same trafficinterval. In some embodiments, the multiple control portions areincluded in different, e.g., successive traffic control intervals duringwhich the active connection remains intact. Active table connection list2004 has already been described with respect to FIG. 20.

Drawing 2300 includes a plot of frequency on the vertical axis 2302 vstime on the horizontal axis 2304 and is used to illustrate exemplaryOFDM traffic control resources (OFDM traffic control resource 1 2306,OFDM traffic control resource 2 2316). Arrow 2308 indicates that theidentifier for the WT 1/7 pair maps to resource unit 2310 in trafficcontrol resource 1 2306, while arrow 2318 indicates that the identifierfor the WT 1/7 pair maps to resource unit 2320 in traffic controlresource 2 2316. Arrow 2312 indicates that the identifier for the WT1/499 pair maps to resource unit 2314 in traffic control resource 12306, while arrow 2322 indicates that the identifier for the WT 1/499pair maps to resource unit 2324 in traffic control resource 2 2316.

It may be observed that air link resource unit 2310 and air linkresource unit 2320 occupy different relative positions in trafficcontrol resource 1 2306 and traffic control resource 2 2316,respectively. Similarly, air link resource unit 2314 and air linkresource unit 2324 occupy different relative positions in trafficcontrol resource 1 2306 and traffic control resource 2 2316,respectively.

Although resource units corresponding to an active connection pair,e.g., resource unit 2210, in FIG. 22 and FIG. 23 are shown as contiguousunits in terms of time and frequency, in some embodiments, a resourceunit such as resource unit 2210 comprises a plurality of components ofwhich some may be, and sometimes are, disjoint, e.g., a set of OFDMtone-symbols which may be dispersed.

In some embodiments, the active connection identifier is an expresslydefined value, e.g., associated with particular units in the trafficcontrol resources. In some embodiments, the active connection identifieris implicitly conveyed, e.g., identification information maps toparticular units of the air link resource. In some embodiments, theactive connection identifier is fixed for particular wireless terminalidentifiers, irrespective of time information. In other embodiments, theactive connection identifier can vary for the same pair of wirelessterminals, e.g., the active connection identifier is derived frominformation known to both peers, e.g., a common time reference, a valuecommunicated in the paging, etc.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart 2400 of an exemplary method of operating a firstcommunications device in accordance with various embodiments. Forexample, the first communications device is a wireless terminal such asa mobile node supporting peer to peer communications using OFDMsignaling. As another example, the first communications device is awireless terminal such as a mobile node supporting peer to peercommunications using CDMA signaling.

Operation starts in step 2402, where the first communications device ispowered on and initialized and proceeds to step 2404. In step 2404, thefirst communications device, during a paging interval preceding atraffic interval, performs operations. Step 2404 includes sub-step 2406,and at times includes sub-step 2408. In sub-step 2406, the firstcommunications device monitors for paging signals. In sub-step 2408, thefirst communications device transmits a page to a second communicationsdevice having a second connection identifier. Operation proceeds fromstep 2404 to step 2410.

In step 2410, the first communications device maintains a list of activeconnection identifiers corresponding to communications devices withwhich said first communications device has received or sent at least onepaging signal. Step 2410 includes sub-steps 2412, 2414, 2416, 2418, 24202422 and 2424. In sub-step 2412, the first communications device checksif a paging message or messages to the first communications device werereceived. If it is determined in sub-step 2412, that a page directed tothe first communications device was received, then operation proceedsfrom sub-step 2412 to sub-step 2418; otherwise step 2418 is bypassed andoperation proceeds to connecting node A 2426. In sub-step 2418, thefirst wireless communications device updates said list of activeconnection identifiers so that the list includes connection identifierscorresponding to wireless communications devices from which a pagingmessage directed to the first wireless communications device wasreceived.

In sub-step 2414, the first communications device determines if a pagewas transmitted by the first communications device, and if a page wastransmitted then operation proceeds from sub-step 2414 to sub-step 2420;otherwise step 2420 is bypassed and operation proceeds to connectingnode A 2426. In sub-step 2420, the first communications device updatessaid list of active connection identifiers to include said secondconnection identifier.

In sub-step 2416, the first communications device determines if anactive connection is no longer valid. In some embodiments, determiningif an active connection identifier is no longer valid includesprocessing a connection termination signal corresponding to thecommunications device to which said active connection identifier alsocorresponds. In some embodiments, determining if an active connectionidentifier is no longer valid includes detecting expiration of a timeouttrigger, said timeout trigger being a function of signals sent to thecommunication device corresponding to said active connection identifieror received from said communications device corresponding to said activeconnection identifier. Operation proceeds from step 2416 to step 2422.In step 2422, the first communications device checks if thedetermination of step 2416 indicates that an active connection is nolonger valid, and if the connection is no longer valid, operationproceeds from step 2422 to step 2424; otherwise step 2422 is bypassedand operation proceeds to connecting node A 2426. In step 2424, thefirst communications device removes the active connection identifierdetermined to be no longer valid from said list of active connectionidentifiers. Operation proceeds from step 2410 via connecting node A2426 to steps 2428 and 2430.

In step 2428, the first communications device determines a portion of atraffic control resource to be monitored as a function of connectionidentifiers included in said list of active connection identifiers. Insome embodiments, determining the portion of the traffic controlresource to be monitored is also a function of a time index of saidtraffic interval.

Operation proceeds from step 2428 to step 2432. In step 2432, the firstcommunications device monitors a traffic control resource during atraffic interval for a traffic request signal corresponding to at leastone connection identifier included in said list of active connectionidentifiers. In various embodiments, the traffic control resourceincludes a plurality of resource unit subsets, and monitoring a trafficcontrol resource includes monitoring less than the full set of resourceunit subsets. In some embodiments, monitoring a traffic control resourceincludes monitoring to detect the presence of a predetermined waveformon said traffic control resource. In some embodiments, the predeterminedwaveform is an OFDM waveform. In some embodiments, the predeterminedwaveform is a PN sequence waveform. In various embodiments, thepredetermined waveform is a function of at least one connectionidentifier included in said list of active connection identifiers.

Operation proceeds from step 2432 to step 2434. In step 2434, the firstcommunications device determines whether or not a traffic request signalwas received. If a traffic request signal was received operationproceeds from step 2434 to step 2436; otherwise step 2436 is bypassedand operation proceeds to connecting node B 2442. In step 2436, thefirst communications device receives data in a traffic data resourcefrom a communications device having the active connection identifiercorresponding to a received traffic request signal.

Returning to step 2430, in step 2430 the first communications devicedetermines if there is data to be communicated, e.g., transmitted, tothe second communications device. If there is data to be communicated tothe second communications device, then operation proceeds from step 2430to step 2438; otherwise steps 2438 and 2440 are bypassed and operationproceeds to connecting node B 2442. In step 2438, the firstcommunications device transmits a traffic request to the secondcommunications device following transmission of said page to the secondcommunications device. Operation proceeds from step 2438 to step 2440,in which the first communications device transmits traffic data to thesecond communications device using a traffic data resource.

Operation proceeds from step 2436 and step 2440 to connecting node B2442. From connecting node B 2442 operation returns to step 2404, whereoperations are performed during another paging interval.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart 2500 of an exemplary method of operating a firstcommunications device to support communications with multiple peerwireless communications devices including a second communications deviceand a third communications device in accordance with variousembodiments. The exemplary first, second, and third communicationsdevices are, e.g., wireless terminals such as mobile nodes supportingpeer to peer communications. In some embodiments, the communicationsdevices use OFDM signaling for peer to peer communications. In someembodiments, the communications devices use CDMA signaling for peer topeer communications.

The exemplary method starts in step 2502, where the first communicationsdevice is powered on and initialized and proceeds from start step 2502to step 2504. In step 2504, the first communications device performs atransmit timing synchronization operation based on a reference signalreceived from a fourth device to determine transmission symbol timing.In some embodiments, the fourth device is one of: a base station, abeacon signal transmitter which does not transmit user data, and asatellite. In various embodiments, the transmit timing is not adjustedbased on signals received from said second and third communicationsdevices.

Operation proceeds from step 2504 to step 2506. In step 2506, the firstcommunications device receives a signal from a second communicationsdevice. In some embodiments, the received signal from the secondcommunications device is one of a traffic signal sent from the secondcommunications device to the first communications device and a trafficsignal sent from the second communications device to anothercommunications device. In some embodiments, the received signal from thesecond communications device is a wideband timing synchronization signalincluding at least some predetermined known modulation symbols and atleast some intentional nulls.

Operation proceeds from step 2506 to step 2508. In step 2508, the firstcommunications device generates first receive timing adjustmentinformation from said received signal from the second communicationsdevice, said receive timing adjustment information for adjusting receivesymbol timing relative to said determined transmission symbol timingwhen communicating with the second communications device. Then, in step2510, the first communications device stores said first receive timingadjustment information. Operation proceeds from step 2510 to step 2512.

In step 2512, the first communications device receives a signal from athird communications device. In some embodiments, the received signalfrom the third communications device is one of a traffic signal sentfrom the third communications device to the first communications deviceand a traffic signal sent from the third communications device toanother communications device. In some embodiments, the received signalfrom the third communications device is a wideband timingsynchronization signal including at least some predetermined knownmodulation symbols and at least some intentional nulls.

Operation proceeds from step 2512 to step 2514. In step 2514, the firstcommunications device generates second receive timing adjustmentinformation from said received signal from the third communicationsdevice, said receive timing adjustment information for adjusting receivesymbol timing relative to said determined transmission symbol timingwhen communicating with the third communications device. Then, in step2516, the first communications device stores said second receive timingadjustment information. Operation proceeds from step 2516 to step 2518.In step 2518, the first communications device transmits to the secondand third communications devices using said determined transmissionsymbol timing. Operation proceeds from step 2518 to step 2520.

In step 2520, the first communications device receives and processes anadditional signal from one of said first and second communicationsdevices. Step 2520 includes sub-steps 2522, 2524, 2526, 2528, and 2530.In sub-step 2522, the first communications device determines if theadditional signal is from the second or third communications device. Ifthe additional signal is from the second communications device, thenoperation proceeds to sub-step 2524; however, if the additional signalis from the third communications device then operation proceeds to step2528. In step 2524, the first communications device retrieves storedfirst receive timing adjustment information. Operation proceeds fromsub-step 2524 to sub-step 2526. In sub-step 2526, the firstcommunications device uses said retrieved first receive timingadjustment information in receiving and/or processing the additionalsignal.

Returning to step 2528, in step 2528, the first communications deviceretrieves stored second receive timing adjustment information. Operationproceeds from sub-step 2528 to sub-step 2530. In sub-step 2530, thefirst communications device uses said retrieved second receive timingadjustment information in receiving and/or processing the additionalsignal.

FIG. 26 is a drawing of an exemplary wireless communications system 2600supporting peer to peer communications in accordance with variousembodiments. Exemplary wireless communications system 2600 includes aplurality of mobile nodes (MN 1 2602, MN 2 2604, MN 3 2606) which may,and sometimes do, communicate with one other using peer to peercommunication signaling connections. Exemplary system 2600 also includesa fourth node 2608, e.g., a fixed location beacon transmitter. Fourthcommunications device 2608 transmits a reference signal 2610 which isused by the mobile nodes to achieve a coarse level of synchronizationand in performing a transmission time synchronization operation. Amobile node, e.g., MN 1 2602, implements the methods of flowchart 2500of FIG. 25. Arrow 2616 indicates that MN 1 2602 and MN 2 2604 have apeer to peer communications connection; arrow 2614 indicates that MN 12602 and MN 3 2606 have a peer to peer communications connection.

MN 1 2602 includes a receiver, a transmitter, a processor, and memory2618 which are coupled together and interchange data and information.Memory 2618 includes routines and data/information. The processor, e.g.,a CPU, executes the routines and uses the data/information in memory2618 to control the operation of MN 1 2602 and implement methods. Memory2618 includes a transmit timing synchronization module 2620, a receivetiming adjustment determination module 2622, and a receive andprocessing module 2626. The receive and processing module 2626 includesa selection module 2628. Memory 2618 also includes stored first receivetiming adjustment information 2630 corresponding to MN 2 and storedsecond receive timing adjustment information 2632 corresponding to MN 3.In this example, the magnitude of the stored second receive timingadjustment information 2632 is larger, at this time, than the magnitudeof the stored first receive timing adjustment information, e.g., as afunction of the positions of the MNs.

Transmit timing synchronization module 2620 performs a transmit timesynchronization operation based on the reference signal 2610 receivedfrom the fourth node 2608 to determine transmission symbol timing to beused by MN 1. Receive timing adjustment determination module 2622determines receive timing information to be used by MN 1 correspondingto different peer MNs. Stored first receive timing adjustmentinformation 2630 corresponding to MN 2 2604 and stored second receivetiming adjustment information 2632 corresponding to MN 3 2606 areoutputs of module 2622. Receive and processing module 2626 receives andprocesses peer to peer communications signals from other MNs, e.g., MN 2and MN 3. As part of the receiving and processing operations storedtiming adjustment information is retrieved and used by module 2626.Selection module 2628 selects the appropriate stored timing adjustmentinformation to use, e.g., one of information 2630 and information 2632,to match the source of the signal.

FIG. 27 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device 2700, e.g.,mobile node supporting peer to peer communications in accordance withvarious embodiments. Exemplary communications device 2700 includes awireless receiver module 2702, a wireless transmitter module 2704, aprocessor 2706, user I/O devices 2708, a clock module 2709, and memory2710 coupled together via a bus 2712 over which the various elements mayinterchange data and information. Memory 2710 includes routines 2714 anddata/information 2716. The processor 2706, e.g., a CPU, executes theroutines 2714 and uses the data/information 2716 in memory 2710 tocontrol the operation of the communications device 2700 and implementmethods, e.g., the method of flowchart 300 of FIG. 3.

Wireless receiver module 2702, e.g., an OFDM receiver, is coupled toreceive antenna 2703 via which the communications device 2700 receivessignals. Received signals include, e.g., broadcast signals used todetermine a timing reference point, signals identifying the presence ofpeers, signals used to perform a timing synchronization operation withrespect to a peer or peers, traffic signals from a peer, and/or pagingsignals from a peer.

Wireless transmitter module 2704, e.g., an OFDM transmitter, is coupledto transmit antenna 2705 via which the communications device 2700transmits signals to peers. In some embodiments, the same antenna isused for transmitter and receiver. Transmitted signals include, e.g.,signals annunciating the presence of communications device 2700, signalsused for timing synchronization with a peer, signals used to page apeer, and/or traffic signals directed to a peer.

User I/O devices 2708 include, e.g., microphone, keyboard, keypad,switches, camera, speaker, display, etc. User I/O devices 2708, allow auser to input data/information, access output data/information, andcontrol at least some functions of the communications device, e.g.,initiate sending of a page to a particular peer node, start acommunications session with a peer node, terminate a communicationssession with a peer node, etc.

Clock module 2709, e.g., a module including an oscillator chip, is usedin maintaining current internal timing of the communications device2700, e.g., as the communications device 2700 is operated through arecurring timing structure.

Routines 2714 include a timing reference point determination module2718, an interval determination module 2720, a paging module 2722, apeer to peer timing synchronization module 2724, a peer discovery module2726, and a traffic module 2728. Data/information 2716 includes storedtiming structure information 2728 and a determined time reference point2730. Stored timing structure information 2728 includes peer discoverytime interval information 2732, traffic interval information 2734 andpaging interval information 2736.

Timing reference point determination module 2718 determines a timereference point. For example, the peer to peer communications network,in some embodiments, follows a recurring timing structure and therecurring timing structure is referenced to an external signal, e.g., abroadcast signal from a satellite, a broadcast signal from a basestation in a cellular network, or a beacon transmitter that doesn'tcommunicate user data. The communications device 2700 upon powering up,may be unaware of the current position within the recurring timingstructure being used by the peer to peer network. Timing reference pointdetermination module 2718 performs a coarse level of synchronizationwith respect to the recurring peer to peer timing structure. Determinedtime reference point 2730 is an output of timing reference pointdetermination module 2718.

In this embodiment, the recurring timing structure used by the peer topeer network includes various predefined intervals such as peerdiscovery time intervals, traffic intervals and paging intervals. Theinterval determination module 2720 uses the stored timing structureinformation 2728 and determined time reference point 2730 to determinethe particular type of interval corresponding to a point in time, e.g.,a current time. Based on the result of the interval determination module2720 operation is transferred to various other modules such as the peerdiscovery module 2726, the peer to peer timing synchronization module2724, the paging module 2722, and the traffic module 2728.

Peer discovery module 2726 performs peer discovery operations duringpeer discovery intervals, e.g., detecting beacon signals identifyingpeer nodes in the vicinity. Peer to peer timing synchronization module2724 performs timing synchronization during peer to peer timingsynchronization intervals. In some embodiments, the peer to peer timingsynchronization intervals are included as part of the peer discoverytime intervals. The timing reference point determination module 2718 isused to achieve a coarse level of timing synchronization with respect toa recurring peer to peer timing structure, while the peer to peer timingsynchronization module 2724 is used to provide a more refined level ofsynchronization between peer nodes.

Paging module 2722 performs paging operations during paging intervals,e.g., processing signals identifying that the communications device 2700is being paged by a peer and/or generating a page signal directed to apeer node to indicate that communications device 2700 is paging the peernode. Traffic module 2728 performs traffic operations during trafficintervals, e.g., generating traffic signals communicating user data,e.g., voice, image, text, file data, etc., to a peer and/or processingreceived signals communicating user data from a peer.

The various modules (2722, 2724, 2726, 2728) also control operationswithin wireless receiver module 2702 and wireless transmitter module2704.

In various embodiments, the stored timing structure information 2728indicates that multiple paging intervals occur between peer discoverytime intervals during at least one period of time for which timingstructure information is stored. In some embodiments, the trafficintervals occupy more time than the time occupied by the combination ofpaging time intervals and peer discovery time intervals during oneiteration of a communications timing structure defined by the storedtiming structure information.

FIG. 28 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device 2800, e.g.,mobile node supporting peer to peer communications in accordance withvarious embodiments. Exemplary communications device 2800 includes awireless receiver module 2802, a wireless transmitter module 2804, aprocessor 2806, user I/O devices 2808, a clock module 2809, and memory2810 coupled together via a bus 2812 over which the various elements mayinterchange data and information. Memory 2810 includes routines 2814 anddata/information 2816. The processor 2806, e.g., a CPU, executes theroutines 2814 and uses the data/information 2816 in memory 2810 tocontrol the operation of the communications device 2800 and implementmethods, e.g., the method of flowchart 400 of FIG. 4.

Wireless receiver module 2802, e.g., an OFDM receiver, is coupled toreceive antenna 2803 via which the communications device 2800 receivessignals. Received signals include, e.g., broadcast signals used todetermine a timing reference point, signals identifying the presence ofpeers, signals used to perform a timing synchronization operation withrespect to a peer or peers, traffic signals from a peer, and/or pagingsignals from a peer.

Wireless transmitter module 2804, e.g., an OFDM transmitter, is coupledto transmit antenna 2805 via which the communications device 2800transmits signals to peers. In some embodiments, the same antenna isused for transmitter and receiver. Transmitted signals include, e.g.,signals annunciating the presence of communications device 2800, signalsused for timing synchronization with a peer, signals used to page apeer, and/or traffic signals directed to a peer.

User I/O devices 2808 include, e.g., microphone, keyboard, keypad,switches, camera, speaker, display, etc. User I/O devices 2808, allow auser to input data/information, access output data/information, andcontrol at least some functions of the communications device, e.g.,initiate sending of a page to a particular peer node, start acommunications session with a peer node, terminate a communicationssession with a peer node, etc.

Clock module 2809, e.g., a module including an oscillator chip, is usedin maintaining current internal timing of the communications device2800, e.g., as the communications device 2800 is operated through arecurring timing structure.

Routines 2814 include a satellite broadcast signal processing module2818, a base station broadcast signal processing module 2820, a beaconsignal processing module 2822, a peer node signal detection module 2824,an interval determination module 2826, a timing reference pointdetermination module 2830, a peer discovery module 2832, a peer to peertiming synchronization module 2834, a timing adjustment module 2840, apaging module 2846, a traffic module 2848, and a broadcast signalgeneration module 2849. Peer to peer timing synchronization module 2834includes a peer to peer receive symbol timing module 2836 and a peer topeer transmit symbol timing module 2838. Timing adjustment module 2840includes a peer to peer receive symbol timing adjustment module 2842 anda peer to peer transmit symbol timing adjustment module 2844.

Data/information 2816 includes stored timing structure information 2850,a determined time reference point 2852, detected peer node signalinformation 2854, determined peer to peer receive symbol timinginformation 2856, determined peer to peer transmit symbol timinginformation 2858 and broadcast signal offset information 2860. Storedtiming structure information 2850 includes peer discovery time intervalinformation 2862, traffic interval information 2864, paging intervalinformation 2866 and timing synchronization interval information 2868.

Satellite broadcast signal processing module 2818 processes a receivedbroadcast signal corresponding to a signal transmitted from a satellite,the received broadcast signal serving as a reference to be used indetermining a timing reference point in a peer to peer timing structure.Base station broadcast signal processing module 2820 processes areceived broadcast signal corresponding to a signal transmitted from abase station in a cellular network, the received broadcast signalserving as a reference to be used in determining a timing referencepoint in a peer to peer timing structure. Beacon signal processingmodule 2822 processes a received broadcast signal corresponding to asignal transmitted from a beacon transmitter that does not transmit userdata, the received broadcast signal serving as a reference to be used indetermining a timing reference point in a peer to peer timing structure.

Timing reference point determination module 2830 uses a receivedbroadcast signal to determine a time reference point. For example, thepeer to peer communications network, in some embodiments, follows arecurring timing structure and the recurring timing structure isreferenced to an external signal, e.g., one of a broadcast signal from asatellite, a broadcast signal from a base station in a cellular network,or a beacon transmitter that doesn't communicate user data. In someembodiments, at different locations, different sources are used toobtain a reference broadcast signal. For example, in some locationswhere cellular networks exist, a base station is used to provide thereference broadcast signal; in some remote areas beacon transmitters areused to provide a broadcast reference signal for peer to peer timing; insome remote areas satellite broadcast signals are used to provide abroadcast reference signal for peer to peer timing The communicationsdevice 2800 upon powering up, may be unaware of the current positionwithin the recurring timing structure being used by the peer to peernetwork. Timing reference point determination module 2830 performs acoarse level of synchronization with respect to the recurring peer topeer timing structure. Determined time reference point 2852 is an outputof timing reference point determination module 2830.

In this embodiment, the recurring timing structure used by the peer topeer network includes various predefined intervals such as peerdiscovery time intervals, traffic intervals, paging intervals, andtiming synchronization intervals. The interval determination module 2826uses the stored timing structure information 2850 and determined timereference point 2852 to determine the particular type of intervalcorresponding to a point in time, e.g., a current time. Based on theresult of the interval determination module 2826 operation istransferred to various other modules such as the peer discovery module2832, the peer to peer timing synchronization module 2834, the pagingmodule 2846, and the traffic module 2848.

Peer discovery module 2832 performs peer discovery operations duringpeer discovery intervals, e.g., detecting beacon signals identifyingpeer nodes in the vicinity.

Peer node signal detection module 2824 detects a signal transmitted by apeer communications device. In some embodiments, the detected signalfrom the peer communications device is a traffic signal used tocommunicate user data. In some embodiments, the detected signal is apredetermined broadcast signal. In some such embodiments, thepredetermined broadcast signal is one of a multi-tone time varyingsignal and a predetermined time varying PN sequence signal. The detectedsignal transmitted by a peer communications device is, in someembodiments, a predetermined broadcast signal received from a peercommunications device in one of a plurality of recurring timingsynchronization intervals.

Peer to peer timing synchronization module 2834 performs timingsynchronization during peer to peer timing synchronization intervals. Insome embodiments, the peer to peer timing synchronization intervals areincluded as part of the peer discovery time intervals. The timingreference point determination module 2830 is used to achieve a coarselevel of timing synchronization with respect to a recurring peer to peertiming structure, while the peer to peer timing synchronization module2834 is used to provide a more refined level of synchronization betweenpeer nodes. Peer to peer receive symbol timing module 2836 determinesdetermined peer to peer receive symbol timing information 2856 which issubsequently used by timing adjustment module 2842. Peer to peertransmit symbol timing module 2838 determines determined peer to peertransmit symbol timing information 2858 which is subsequently used bytiming adjustment module 2844.

Timing adjustment module 2840 adjusts at least one of peer to peerreceive symbol timing and peer to peer transmit symbol timing as afunction of the detected signal from peer node signal detection module2824. Peer to peer receive symbol timing adjustment module 2842 uses thedetermined peer to peer receive symbol timing information 2856 to adjustpeer to peer receive symbol timing in wireless receiver module 2802.Peer to peer transmit symbol timing adjustment module 2844 uses thedetermined peer to peer transmit symbol timing information 2858 toadjust peer to peer transmit symbol timing in wireless transmit module2804.

Paging module 2846 performs paging operations during paging intervals,e.g., processing signals identifying that the communications device 2800is being paged by a peer and/or generating a page signal directed to apeer node to indicate that communications device 2800 is paging a peernode. Traffic module 2848 performs traffic operations during trafficintervals, e.g., generating traffic signals communicating user data,e.g., voice, image, text, file data, etc., to a peer and/or processingreceived signals communicating user data from a peer.

Broadcast signal generation module 2849 generates a predeterminedbroadcast signal to be transmitted in a time interval having apredetermined offset from the determined time reference point. Thepredetermined offset is indicated in broadcast signal offset information2860. The generated broadcast signal is, e.g., a user beacon indicatingthe presence of communications device 2800 to other peer communicationsdevices which may be in the local vicinity. Alternatively, and/or inaddition, the generated broadcast signal is, e.g., a timingsynchronization signal, such as a wideband synchronization signal to beused by a peer node in the vicinity of communications device 2800 toachieve symbol timing synchronization.

In various embodiments, the stored timing structure information 2850indicates that multiple paging intervals occur between peer discoverytime intervals during at least one period of time for which timingstructure information is stored. In some embodiments, the trafficintervals occupy more time than the time occupied by the combination ofpaging time intervals and peer discovery time intervals during oneiteration of a communications timing structure defined by the storedtiming structure information.

Determined time reference point 2852 is an output of timing referencepoint determination module 2830 and is subsequently used by intervaldetermination module 2826, peer node signal detection module 2824, peerto peer timing synchronization module 2834, and broadcast signalgeneration module 2849. Detected peer node signal information 2854 is anoutput of peer node signal detection module 2824 and is used by peer topeer timing synchronization module 2834. Determined peer to peer receivesymbol timing information 2856 is an output of module 2836 and is usedby module 2842. Determined peer to peer transmit symbol timinginformation 2858 is an output of module 2838 and is used by module 2844.Broadcast signal offset information 2860 is used to determine when abroadcast signal generated by module 2849 is to be broadcast usingwireless transmitter 2804.

FIG. 29 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device 2900, e.g.,mobile node supporting peer to peer communications, in accordance withvarious embodiments. Exemplary communications device 2900 includes awireless receiver module 2902, a wireless transmitter module 2904, aprocessor 2906, user I/O devices 2908, a clock module 2909, and memory2910 coupled together via a bus 2912 over which the various elements mayinterchange data and information. Memory 2910 includes routines 2914 anddata/information 2916. The processor 2906, e.g., a CPU, executes theroutines 2914 and uses the data/information 2916 in memory 2910 tocontrol the operation of the communications device 2900 and implementmethods, e.g., the method of flowchart 500 of FIG. 5.

Wireless receiver module 2902, e.g., an OFDM receiver, is coupled toreceive antenna 2903 via which the communications device 2900 receivessignals. Received signals include timing reference broadcast signals,e.g., from satellites, base stations, and/or beacon signal transmitters,the timing reference signal to be used to establish a coarse level ofsynchronization with a recurring peer to peer timing structure. Receivedsignals also include, peer node identification signals, e.g., peer nodeuser beacon signals, peer node timing synchronization signals, peer nodepaging signals, base station paging signals, peer to peer sessionestablishment signals, and peer to peer traffic signals. Wirelessreceiver module 2902 receives, during a peer discovery time interval, abroadcast signal from a peer communications device.

Wireless transmitter module 2904, e.g., an OFDM transmitter, is coupledto transmit antenna 2905 via which the communications device 2900transmits signals. In some embodiments, the same antenna is used fortransmitter and receiver. Transmitted signals include a peer nodeidentification signal, e.g., a peer node user beacon signal conveying atleast one of a device identifier and a user identifier, peer node timingsynchronization signals, a peer to peer paging signal, a paging signaldirected to a base station to be forwarded as a wide area paging signal,peer to peer session establishment signals, and peer to peer trafficsignals.

User I/O devices 2908 include, e.g., microphone, keyboard, keypad,mouse, switches, camera, speaker, display. User I/O devices 2908 allow auser of communications device 2900 to input user data to be directed toa peer, access output user data from a peer, and control at least somefunctions of the communications device, e.g., page a peer node,establish a peer to peer communications session, terminate a peer topeer communications session.

Clock module 2909, e.g., a module including an oscillator chip, is usedin maintaining current internal timing of the communications device2900, e.g., as the communications device 2900 is operated through arecurring peer to peer timing structure.

Routines 2914 include a timing reference point determination module2918, an interval determination module 2920, a peer identifier recoverymodule 2922, a peer identifier deletion module 2924, a timer module2926, a timer reset module 2927, a traffic module 2928, a pagemonitoring module 2934, a page response signaling module 2935, a peer topeer session establishment module 2936, a paging event detection module2938, a paging interval determination module 2940, a paging typeselection module 2942, a peer to peer paging viability module 2946, anda paging module 2950.

Timing reference point determination module 2918 uses a receivedbroadcast signal, e.g., from a satellite, base station, or beacon signaltransmitter to determine a time reference point in a recurring peer topeer timing structure. Interval determination module 2920 determines acurrent interval type in a recurring peer to peer timing structure.Operations of interval determination module 2920 include accessing andusing the stored timing structure information 2956 including the paginginterval information 2962 to determine recurring paging intervals.

Peer identifier recovery module 2922 recovers an identifier from areceived broadcast signal from a peer communications device, which wasreceived during a peer discovery time interval. The recovered identifieris one a device identifier and a user identifier. Peer identifierrecovery module 2922 also stores the recovered identifier in recoveredpeer identifier information 2970 in memory 2910. Device identifier 12972, device identifier N 2974, user identifier 1 2976, user identifierM 2978 are examples of stored recovered peer identifiers.

Peer identifier deletion module 2924 deletes a received identifier frommemory in response to determining that a signal from a peercommunications device corresponding to the identifier has not beendetected within a period of time. In some embodiments, the period oftime is a predetermined period of time, e.g., the predetermined periodof time indicated by no response time information 2984.

In some embodiments, the predetermined period of time is a lifetimeassociated with a received identifier. Exemplary lifetimes associatedwith received identifiers are shown as lifetime information (2973, 2975,2977, 2979). In some embodiments, different device and or useridentifiers have different associated lifetimes. In some embodiments,the lifetime associated with a peer identifier is a function of therepeat interval between successive communications device identifierbroadcast signals for the particular communications device.

Timer module 2926 which is updated by clock module 2909 is used todetermine when a lifetime has expired. Timer module 2926 can, andsometimes does maintain independent status relative to lifetimeexpiration for a plurality of peers. Timer module 2926, in someembodiments, performs an incremental countdown, which continues untillifetime expiration occurs or an event occurs which resets the timermodule 2926 with respect to a particular previously discovered peerbeing tracked. Timer reset module 2927 updates the timer module 2926when a signal is received from a peer communications device. Forexample, the reception of an identification signal from a previouslyidentified peer being tracked allows the communications device 2900 torecognize that the peer is still in the local vicinity and powered up,and the timer countdown can be restarted with respect to that peer.

Traffic module 2928 controls communication of user data between thecommunications device 2900 and a peer node via a wireless communicationslink, e.g., a direct wireless communications link between thecommunications device 2900 and a peer node, during a traffic interval ofthe recurring peer to peer timing structure. Traffic module 2928includes a transmission control module 2930 and a reception controlmodule 2932. Transmission control module 2930 controls the sending ofuser data during a peer to peer traffic interval. Reception controlmodule 2932 controls the receiving of user data during a peer to peertraffic interval. In various embodiments, user data includes at leastone of: text data, image data, voice data, and application data.

In some embodiments, the reception control module 2932 of the trafficmodule 2928 controls the wireless communications device 2900 to refrainfrom monitoring for traffic data during at least one traffic intervaloccurring which follows a paging interval in which no page was detectedwhich was directed to the communications device and prior to theoccurrence of another paging interval. In some embodiments, thereception control module 2932 of the traffic module 2928 controls thewireless communications device 2900 to refrain from monitoring fortraffic data during any of the traffic intervals occurring between apaging interval in which no page was detected which was directed to thecommunications device 2900 and the next paging interval during which apage can be directed to communications device 2900.

Paging event detection module 2938 detects an event used to triggersending of a paging message to a peer communications device. Forexample, a user of the communications device 2910 may perform an inputoperation via a user I/O device 2908 to generate a page to a particularuser or device.

Paging interval determination module 2940 determines one of a pluralityof paging intervals in the recurring timing structure to be used fortransmitting a paging message to a peer communications device, thedetermined one paging interval being a function of the stored peeridentifier corresponding to the peer communications device to which thepage is to be directed. For example, in some embodiments, a peercommunications device listens to a subset of paging intervals whichcorrespond to its device identifier and/or user identifier, butintentionally do not listen to other paging intervals within the fullset of paging intervals in the recurring peer to peer timing structure.Therefore the page is placed in the appropriate page interval so that itcan be detected.

Peer to peer paging viability module 2946 determines if a peercommunications device is pagable by a peer to peer page. Thedetermination of the peer to peer paging viability module 2946 is usedby the paging type selection module 2942. Peer to peer paging viabilitymodule 2946 includes an identifier list checking module 2948. Identifierlist checking module 2948 checks a list of stored identifiers, e.g.,identifiers in recovered peer identifier information 2970 to determineif the peer communications device is reachable by a peer to peer page.

Paging type selection module 2942 selects between sending a peer to peerpage to a peer communications device, e.g., a direct page to the peercommunications device and sending a page through a base station, e.g.,sending a wide area page through a base station. The output of thepaging selection module 2942 is used to control which of peer to peerpaging module 2952 and wide area paging module 2954 is active for aparticular page to be transmitted by wireless transmitter 2904. In someembodiments, the wide area paging is selected as a default when a peercommunications device is determined to be unreachable by a peer to peerpage.

Paging module 2950 operations include generating a page directed to apeer communications device prior to communicating user data to the peercommunications device and controlling the wireless transmitter totransmit the generated page. Paging module 2950 controls operation ofwireless transmitter module 2904 to communicate a page to a peercommunications device during a paging interval. Paging module 2950includes a peer to peer paging module 2952 and a wide area paging module2954.

Peer to peer session establishment module 2936 controls communicatingpeer to peer session establishment information between thecommunications device 2900 and a peer communications device, e.g., priorto communicating user data. In various embodiments, communicating peerto peer session establishment information includes at least one ofsending session establishment information and receiving sessionestablishment information. In some embodiments, the peer to peer sessionestablishment information includes at least one of a session identifier,session quality of service (QoS) information and an indicator of thetype of traffic to be communicated during the session.

Page monitoring module 2934 monitors during at least some pagingintervals in the recurring peer to peer timing structure for pagesdirected to the communications device 2900. In some embodiments, asubset of the set of paging intervals in the recurring timing structurecan be used to direct peer to peer pages to wireless communicationsdevice 2900, and wireless communications device 2900 monitors duringthose paging intervals but does not monitor during other pagingintervals.

In various embodiments, the page monitoring module 2934 monitors foradditional paging signals during paging intervals occurring betweentraffic intervals in which user data is communicated as part of anongoing peer to peer communications session between the communicationsdevice 2900 and a peer communications device. For example, an additionalpeer communications device may be seeking to establish a peer to peercommunications session with communications device 2900. In someembodiments, wireless communications device 2900 supports a plurality ofsimultaneous ongoing peer to peer communications sessions. In someembodiments, wireless communications device 2900 may, and sometimes doesterminate or suspend an ongoing peer to peer communications session toestablish a new peer to peer communications session with a differentpeer communications device, e.g., in response to a received pageindicating a higher priority level.

Page response signaling module 2935 generates a page response signal andcontrols the transmission of the page response signal in response toreceiving a page directed to communications device 2900.

Data/information 2916 includes stored timing structure information 2956,determined time reference point 2966, received broadcast signal frompeer 2968, recovered peer identifier information 2970, user data fortransmission 2980, received user data 2982, no response time information2984, predetermined lifetime information 2986, peer to peer sessionestablishment information 2988 and generated page message 2990.

Stored timing structure information 2956 includes peer discovery timeinterval information 2958, traffic interval information 2960, paginginterval information 2962, and timing synchronization intervalinformation 2964.

Recovered peer identifier information 2970 includes peer deviceidentifier information and/or peer user identifier information. Aplurality of peer device identifiers are shown (device identifier 12972, . . . , device identifier N 2974). In some embodiments, at leastsome of the device identifiers have associated lifetime information.(Lifetime information 2973, . . . , lifetime information 2975)corresponds to (device identifier 1 2972, . . . , device identifier N2974), respectively.

A plurality of peer user identifiers are shown (user identifier 1 2976,user identifier M 2978). In some embodiments, at least some of the useridentifiers have associated lifetime information. (Lifetime information2977, . . . , lifetime information 2979) corresponds to (user identifier1 2976, . . . , user identifier M 2978), respectively.

Stored timing structure information 2956 is accessed and used by variousmodules including interval determination module 2920. Determined timereference point 2966 is an output of timing reference pointdetermination module 2918. Recovered peer identifier information 2970identifies a set of peer communications devices and/or users currentlyin the local vicinity of communications device 2900, which may becandidates for peer to peer communications sessions with communicationsdevice 2900. Recovered peer identifier information 2970 includesinformation recovered by peer identifier recovery module 2922. Variousentries in recovered peer identifier information 2970 are deleted fromthe stored information by peer identifier deletion module 2924, e.g., inresponse to loss of identification signaling such as a user beacon froma peer communications device. The loss of the identification signalindicating that the peer is inaccessible at present, e.g., due to havingpowered down, moved out of range, and/or being situated in a dead spotwith respect to communications device 2900.

User data for transmission 2980, e.g., text data, image data, voicedata, file data, includes data to be transmitted by wireless transmittermodule 2904 to a peer communications device as part of a peer to peercommunications session, the transmission being under control of thetransmission control module 2930 of traffic module 2928 during a trafficinterval in the recurring peer to peer timing structure. Received userdata 2982, e.g., text data, image data, voice data, file data, includesdata received by wireless receiver module 2902 from a peercommunications device as part of a peer to peer communications session,the reception being under control of the reception control module 2932of traffic module 2928 during a traffic interval in the recurring peerto peer timing structure.

Peer to peer session establishment information 2988 includes informationcommunicated by peer to peer session establishment module 2936. Peer topeer session establishment information 2988 includes at least one of: apeer to peer session identifier, peer to peer session quality of serviceinformation, and an indicator of the type of traffic to be communicatedin the peer to peer communications session.

Generated page message 2990 is generated by paging module 2950 andtransmitted by wireless transmitter module 2904. In various embodimentsa first format is utilized for a peer to peer paging message and asecond format is used for a wide area paging message, wherein the firstand second formats are different. In some embodiments, peer to peerpaging messages are controlled to be transmitted during peer to peerpaging intervals defined by the recurring peer to peer timing structure,while wide area paging messages are transmitted during cellular networktiming structure paging intervals corresponding to the base station towhich the wide area page request is being sent. In some suchembodiments, the timing structure of the base station is notsynchronized with respect to the peer to peer timing structure. In someembodiments, the communications device 2900 suspends peer to peersignaling during at least some base station cellular network pagingintervals to support wide area paging functionality.

FIG. 30 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device 3000, e.g.,mobile node supporting peer to peer communications, in accordance withvarious embodiments. Exemplary communications device 3000 includes awireless receiver module 3002, a wireless transmitter module 3004, aprocessor 3006, user I/O devices 3008, a clock module 3009, and memory3010 coupled together via a bus 3012 over which the various elements mayinterchange data and information. Memory 3010 includes routines 3014 anddata/information 3016. The processor 3006, e.g., a CPU, executes theroutines 3014 and uses the data/information 3016 in memory 3010 tocontrol the operation of the communications device 3000 and implementmethods, e.g., the method of flowchart 1500 of FIG. 15.

Wireless receiver module 3002, e.g., an OFDM receiver, is coupled toreceive antenna 3003 via which the communications device 3000 receivessignals. Received signals include timing reference broadcast signals,e.g., from satellites, base stations, and/or beacon signal transmitters,the timing reference signal to be used to establish a coarse level ofsynchronization with a recurring peer to peer timing structure. Receivedsignals also include, peer node identification signals, e.g., peer nodeuser beacon signals, peer node timing synchronization signals, peer nodepaging signals, base station paging signals, peer to peer sessionestablishment signals, and peer to peer traffic signals.

Wireless transmitter module 3004, e.g., an OFDM transmitter, is coupledto transmit antenna 3005 via which the communications device 3000transmits signals. In some embodiments, the same antenna is used fortransmitter and receiver. Transmitted signals include a peer nodeidentification signal, e.g., a peer node user beacon signal conveying atleast one of a device identifier and a user identifier, peer node timingsynchronization signals, a peer to peer paging signal, a paging signaldirected to a base station to be forwarded as a wide area paging signal,peer to peer session establishment signals, and peer to peer trafficsignals.

User I/O devices 3008 include, e.g., microphone, keyboard, keypad,mouse, switches, camera, speaker, display. User I/O devices 3008 allow auser of communications device 3000 to input user data to be directed toa peer, access output user data from a peer, and control at least somefunctions of the communications device, e.g., page a peer node,establish a peer to peer communications session, terminate a peer topeer communications session.

Clock module 3009, e.g., a module including an oscillator chip, is usedin maintaining current internal timing of the communications device3000, e.g., as the communications device 3000 is operated through arecurring peer to peer timing structure.

Routines 3014 include an access module 3018, an operation determinationmodule 3020, a paging module 3022, a peer to peer timing synchronizationmodule 3024, a peer discovery module 3026 and a traffic module 3028.

Data/information 3016 includes stored timing structure information 3030and current time period 3042. Stored timing structure information 3030includes pattern information 3032, peer discovery time intervalinformation 3034, traffic interval information 3036, paging intervalinformation 3038 and timing synchronization interval information 3040.The stored timing structure information 3030 includes informationidentifying the duration of one iteration of the pattern, the sequentialordering between different intervals with the pattern, the duration ofvarious different types of intervals, and relationship informationcorresponding to different types of intervals.

Access module 3018 accesses stored peer to peer timing structureinformation 3030, the stored peer to peer timing structure information3030 including information defining a pattern of different types of timeintervals, said different types of time intervals including at least apeer discovery interval and a traffic interval.

Operation determination module 3020 uses the accessed stored peer topeer timing structure information in determining an operation to beperformed during a current time period. The current time period isindicated by information stored in current time period 3042 andrepresents an output of clock module 3009. Current time period 3042, insome embodiments, identifies an index value pointing to a particularsymbol timing location in a recurring peer to peer timing structure,e.g. a particular OFDM symbol time interval position within therecurring peer to peer timing structure which falls into at least one ofthe different types of intervals, e.g. paging, traffic, peer discovery,timing synchronization.

The result of the operation determination module 3020 directs control toone of paging module 3022, peer to peer timing synchronization module3024, peer discovery module 3026 and traffic module 3028, where aparticular operation corresponding to the interval type is performed.

In various embodiments, the pattern of different types of time intervalsin the peer to peer timing structure repeats over time. In some suchembodiments, the pattern has a predetermined periodicity and each periodincludes at least one peer discovery interval and at least one trafficinterval. In various embodiments, the duration of each peer discoveryinterval is less than 10 milli-seconds. In some embodiments, during eachperiod, the total time allocated to traffic intervals is at least 100times the total time allocated to peer discovery intervals.

In some embodiments, each of a plurality of traffic intervals includedin each period has a duration which is longer than the duration of anyof the peer discovery intervals included in said period. In someembodiments, each time period includes at least 10 times as many traffictime intervals as peer discovery time intervals.

In various embodiments, the traffic and peer discovery intervals havethe same duration or substantially the same duration and there are moretraffic time intervals then peer discovery time intervals.

In some embodiments, two successive peer discovery intervals in a timeperiod including two repetitions of said pattern are separated in timeby a gap of at least 1 second.

Peer to peer timing synchronization module 3024 collects signal timingdata from a signal received from a peer device, e.g., during a timingsynchronization time interval, said signal timing data being for use inadjusting the wireless terminal symbol timing. In some embodiments, thetiming synchronization time interval occurs during the peer discoverytime interval. In some embodiments, the peer to peer timingsynchronization module 3024 collects signal timing data received from apeer device during a traffic interval. Peer to peer timingsynchronization module 3024 determines timing adjustment to be applied,and adjusts the wireless terminals symbol timing by controllingadjustment of wireless receiver module 3002 and/or wireless transmittermodule 3004, e.g. adjustment values are loaded into the receiver 3002and/or transmitter 3004.

Paging module 3022 performs paging operations during paging intervals,e.g., monitoring for and processing peer to peer pages directed towireless communications device 3000 and generating and controllingtransmission of a peer to peer page directed to a peer communicationsdevice with which communications device 3000 desires to establish a peerto peer communications session. In some embodiments, each period of therecurring peer to peer timing structure includes at least one paginginterval. In some such embodiments, the duration of each paging intervalis less than 10 milli-seconds.

Traffic module 3028 performs traffic operations during trafficintervals, e.g., supporting the reception and transmission of user databetween peers in a peer to peer communications session. In someembodiments, each time period in the recurring peer to peer timingstructure allocates at least 10 times as much total time to trafficintervals as the amount of total time allocated to paging intervals. Insome embodiments, each of a plurality of traffic intervals included ineach period of the recurring peer to peer timing structure has aduration which is longer than the duration of any of the pagingintervals included in said period.

In various embodiments, each time period in the recurring peer to peertiming structure includes at least ten times as many traffic intervalsas paging intervals.

In various embodiments, the traffic and paging intervals have the sameduration or substantially the same duration and there are more trafficintervals than paging intervals.

In some embodiments, two successive paging intervals in a time periodincluding two repetitions of the pattern defining the recurring peer topeer timing structure are separated in time by a gap of at least 100msec.

Peer discovery module 3026 performs peer discovery operations duringpeer discovery intervals in the recurring peer to peer timing structure.Peer discovery operations include monitoring for broadcast signals suchas user beacons from peer communications devices in the local vicinity,detecting such broadcast signals, and attempting to recover at least oneof a device identifier and a user identifier from the detected broadcastsignal. In various embodiments, the total amount of time for paging isat least twice the total amount of time for peer discovery.

FIG. 31 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device 3100, e.g.,mobile node supporting peer to peer communications, in accordance withvarious embodiments. Exemplary communications device 3100 includes awireless receiver module 3102, a wireless transmitter module 3104, aprocessor 3106, user I/O devices 3108, a clock module 3109, and memory3110 coupled together via a bus 3112 over which the various elements mayinterchange data and information. Memory 3110 includes routines 3114 anddata/information 3116. The processor 3106, e.g., a CPU, executes theroutines 3114 and uses the data/information 3116 in memory 3110 tocontrol the operation of the communications device 3100 and implementmethods, e.g., the method of flowchart 2400 of FIG. 24.

Wireless receiver module 3102, e.g., an OFDM receiver, is coupled toreceive antenna 3103 via which the communications device 3100 receivessignals. Received signals include, peer node identification signals,e.g., peer node user beacon signals, paging signals, request for trafficresources, traffic signals conveying user data, and terminationconnection notification signals.

Wireless transmitter module 3104, e.g., an OFDM transmitter, is coupledto transmit antenna 3105 via which the communications device 3100transmits signals. In some embodiments, the same antenna is used fortransmitter and receiver. Transmitted signals include a peer nodeidentification signal, e.g., a peer node user beacon signal conveying atleast one of a device identifier and a user identifier, paging signals,traffic resource request signals, traffic signals conveying user data,and connection termination signals.

User I/O devices 3108 include, e.g., microphone, keyboard, keypad,mouse, switches, camera, speaker, display. User I/O devices 3108 allow auser of communications device 3100 to input user data to be directed toa peer, access output user data from a peer, and control at least somefunctions of the communications device, e.g., page a peer node,establish a peer to peer communications session, terminate a peer topeer communications session.

Clock module 3109, e.g., a module including an oscillator chip, is usedin maintaining current internal timing of the communications device3100, e.g., as the communications device 3100 is operated through arecurring peer to peer timing structure.

Routines 3114 include a peer discovery module 3117, an active connectionlist maintenance module 3118, a page monitoring module 3120, a trafficresource request monitoring module 3122, a traffic control resourceportion determination module 3124, a waveform detection module 3126, apage generation module 3128, a page transmission control module 3130, atraffic request module 3132, a traffic data signaling module 3134, aconnection invalidity determination module 3136, a connectiontermination signaling module 3138, and a timeout module 3140.

Data/information 3116 includes a list of discovered peers 3147, anactive list of connection identifiers 3148, traffic control resourceinformation 3150, peer to peer timing structure information 3152,received user data 3154, received paging message 3156, determined subsetof traffic control resources to monitor 3158, received connectiontermination signal 3160, generated connection termination signal 3162,generated page message 3164, a generated traffic request 3166, and areceived traffic request signal 3167.

Peer discovery module 3117 monitors for and detects for broadcastsignals from peer communications devices in the local vicinitycommunicating identifier information, e.g., device identifierinformation and/or user identifier information. In some embodiments peerdiscovery broadcast signals used for identification such as user beaconsignals are communicated during predetermined peer discovery timeintervals in a recurring peer to peer timing structure. List ofdiscovered peers 3147 is formed and updated by peer discovery module3117.

Active connection list maintenance module 3118 maintains a list ofactive connection identifiers corresponding to communications deviceswith which communications device 3100 has received or sent at least onepaging signal. Active list of connection identifiers 3148 is the listbeing maintained by maintenance module 3118. Active list of connectionidentifiers 3148 is shown including one or more active connectionidentifiers (active connection identifier 1 3168, . . . , activeconnection identifier M 3170).

Active connection list maintenance module 3118 includes an incoming pagebased updating module 3142, an outgoing page based updating module 3144,and a removal module 3146.

Page monitoring module 3120 monitors, during paging intervals, forpaging signals indicating that communications device 3100 is being pagedby a peer communications device, e.g., a peer communications device fromthe list of discovered peers. Incoming page based updating module 3142updates the list of active connection identifiers so that the listincludes connection identifiers corresponding to the peer communicationsdevices from which a paging message directed to communications device3100 was received.

Traffic resource request monitoring module 3122 monitors a trafficcontrol resource during a traffic interval for a traffic request signalcorresponding to at least one connection identifier in the list ofactive connection identifiers. The traffic control resource includes aplurality of resource unit subsets and monitoring a traffic controlresource includes monitoring less than the full set of resource subsets.Traffic control resource information 3150 identifies a plurality ofdifferent resources subsets (resources subset 1 information 3172, . . ., resource subset N information 3174). In this exemplary embodiment,time index information is associated with each of the resource subsets.Time index information 3176 is associated with traffic control resourcesubset 1 3172, while time index information 3178 is associated withtraffic control resource subset N 3174.

Traffic control resource portion determination module 3124 determinesthe portion of the traffic control resource to be monitored as afunction of an active connection identifier and/or time indexinformation, e.g., a time index of the traffic interval.

Monitoring a traffic control resource includes monitoring to detect forthe presence of a predetermined waveform on the traffic controlresource. In various embodiments, the predetermined waveform is afunction of at least one connection identifier in the active list ofconnection identifiers. Waveform detection module 3126 detects forpredetermined waveforms of interest on the traffic control resourcebeing monitored. In some embodiments, the predetermined waveform is a PNsequence waveform. In some embodiments, the predetermined waveform is anOFDM waveform.

Traffic data signaling module 3134 operations include receiving data,e.g., user data, communicated in a traffic data resource from acommunications device having the active connection identifiercorresponding to a received traffic request signal. Traffic datasignaling module 3134 operations also include generating traffic datasignals and controlling the transmission of the traffic data signalsusing a traffic data resource associated with a traffic control resourcewhich has been used to communicate a traffic data request.

Page generation module 3128 generates a page to a peer node, e.g., apeer node from the list of discovered peers 3147. Page transmissioncontrol module 3130 controls the wireless transmitter module 3104 totransmit the generated page during a paging interval. A connectionidentifier corresponding to the device being paged and communicationsdevice 3100 is associated with the generated page. The outgoing pagebased updating module 3144 updates the list of active connections 3148to include the connection identifier.

Traffic request module 3132 controls generation of and transmission of atraffic request to a peer node which was previously paged followingtransmission of a page. Connection invalidity determination module 3136determines that an active connection identifier is no longer valid. Theremoval module 3146 uses a determination of module 3136 which indicatesthat a connection is no longer valid to remove a connection identifierfrom active list of connection identifiers 3148.

Connection termination signaling module 3138 processes a connectiontermination signal corresponding to a communications device to which anactive connection corresponds to identify that a connection should nolonger be considered valid.

Time out module 3140 determines if a connection is no longer valid dueto expiration of a timeout trigger, the time out trigger being afunction of signals sent to the peer communications device correspondingto the active connection identifier or received from the peercommunication device corresponding to active connection identifier.

Peer to peer timing structure information 3152 includes informationidentifying various intervals included in the recurring peer to peertiming structure, information identifying the characteristics of thedifferent intervals, information identifying the pattern of differentintervals, and information identifying relationships between the variousintervals. Peer to peer timing structure information includes trafficinterval information 3180 and paging interval information 3182. In someembodiments, there are predetermined mapping relations between differentresources. For, example, a particular paging slot may be, and sometimesis, associated with a particular traffic control resource, and/or aparticular traffic control resource is associated with a particulartraffic segment. Such predetermined relationships and/or mappingadvantageously reduce overhead signaling and/or limit the amount ofresources a particular communications device needs to monitor.

Received user data 3154 includes user data such as voice data, imagedata, text data, and/or file data, received from a peer communicationsdevice in a traffic data resource. Received paging message 3156 is apaging message detected by page monitoring module 3120. The source ofthe page is used to generate an active connection identifier for list3148. Generated page message 3164 is a page message to be directed to apeer which is generated by page generation module 3128, the target ofthe page being used to generate an active connection identifier for list3148. Received traffic request signal 3167 is a signal detected bytraffic resource request monitoring module 3122, while generated trafficrequest 3166 is a signal generated by traffic request module 3132.Determined subset of traffic control resources to monitor 3158 is anoutput of traffic control resource portion determination module 3124 andis used by resource request monitoring module 3122 in deciding whichsubset or subset of traffic control resource information 3150 tocurrently monitor. Received connection termination signal 3160 is asignal received from a peer with which communications device 3100 hashad an active connection, the termination signal indicating that thepeer is terminating the active connection. Received connectiontermination signal 3160 is recovered by connection termination signalingmodule 3138. Generated connection termination signal 3162 is a signalgenerated by connection termination signaling module 3138 which is to betransmitted to a peer to indicate to that peer that communicationsdevice 3100 is ceasing to maintain the active connection.

FIG. 32 is a drawing of an exemplary communications device 3200, e.g.,mobile node supporting peer to peer communications in accordance withvarious embodiments. Exemplary wireless communications device 3200supports the storage and maintenance of a plurality of different receivesymbol timing adjustment settings corresponding to different peer nodes.Exemplary communications device 3200 includes a wireless receiver module3202, a wireless transmitter module 3204, a processor 3206, user I/Odevices 3208, a clock module 3209, and memory 3210 coupled together viaa bus 3212 over which the various elements may interchange data andinformation. Memory 3210 includes routines 3214 and data/information3216. The processor 3206, e.g., a CPU, executes the routines 3214 anduses the data/information 3216 in memory 3210 to control the operationof the communications device 3200 and implement methods, e.g., themethod of flowchart 2500 of FIG. 25.

Wireless receiver module 3202, e.g., an OFDM receiver, is coupled toreceiver antenna 3203 via which the communications device 3200 receivessignals. Received signals include, e.g., broadcast signals used todetermine a timing reference point, signals identifying the presence ofpeers, a signal from a first peer used to perform receive timingsynchronization operation with respect to the first peer, a signal froma second peer used to perform a receive timing synchronization operationwith respect to the second peer, traffic signals from peers, and/orpaging signals from peers.

Wireless transmitter module 3204, e.g., an OFDM transmitter, is coupledto transmit antenna 3205 via which the communications device 3200transmits signals to peers. In some embodiments, the same antenna isused for transmitter and receiver. Transmitted signals include, e.g.,signals annunciating the presence of communications device 3200, signalsused for timing synchronization with a peer, signals used to page apeer, and/or traffic signals directed to a peer.

User I/O devices 3208 include, e.g., microphone, keyboard, keypad,switches, camera, speaker, display, etc. User I/O devices 3208, allow auser to input data/information, access output data/information, andcontrol at least some functions of the communications device, e.g.,initiate sending of a page to a particular peer node, start acommunications session with a peer node, terminate a communicationssession with a peer node, etc.

Clock module 3209, e.g., a module including an oscillator chip, is usedin maintaining current internal timing of the communications device3200, e.g., as the communications device 3200 is operated through arecurring timing structure.

Routines 3214 include a transmit timing synchronization module 3218, areceive timing adjustment information generation module 3220, a receivetiming adjustment information storage module 3222, a receive timingadjustment module 3224, a receiver control module 3226 and a transmittercontrol module 3228.

Data/information 3216 includes stored peer to peer timing structureinformation 3230, received reference signal information 3234, determinedtransmission symbol timing information 3236, a plurality of receivedsignal information used to determined receive timing adjustments(received signal from peer device 1 used for receive timing adjustmentdetermination 3228, . . . , received signal from peer device n used forreceive timing adjustment determination 3240), and receive timingadjustment information 3242 (device 1 receive timing adjustmentinformation 3244, . . . , device n receive timing adjustment information3246).

Transmit timing synchronization module 3218 performs a transmit timingsynchronization operation based on a reference signal received from acommunications device, e.g., a broadcast reference signal received fromone of a satellite, a base station, and a beacon signal transmitterwhich does not transmit user data, to determine transmission symboltiming. The determined transmission symbol timing information 3236 isused by wireless transmitter control module 3228 to control wirelesstransmitter 3204 operation. Received reference signal information 3234represents a signal received from a satellite, base station or beaconsignal transmitter, which is utilized to lock the wireless terminaltransmitter module's transmit symbol timing with respect to a recurringpeer to peer timing structure. For example, wireless communicationsdevice 3200 powers up at a random point in time, and its clock modulestarts indexing time, but the time indexing at this point is notcoordinated to any external reference. The detection and use of thereceived reference signal information 3234 allows coordination to anexternal reference point allowing multiple peers in the vicinity to lockup with the same reference and use the same recurring peer to peertiming structure.

Receive timing adjustment information generation module 3220 processes areceived signal from a peer communications device and uses the receivedsignal to determine a specific receive timing adjustment correspondingto that peer device. In some embodiments, the received signal used forthe timing adjustment determination is a wideband synchronization signalbroadcast from the peer communications device. In some embodiments, thereceived signal used for timing adjustment is a traffic channel signaltransmitted by the peer wireless communications device and sent to oneof wireless communications device 3200 and another wirelesscommunications device.

Receive timing adjustment storage module 3222 stores the determinedreceive timing adjustment information corresponding to a peer device.

Received signal from peer device 1 3238 is used by module 3220 todetermine and generate device 1 receive timing adjustment information3244, and then module 3222 stores the information 3244 in memory 3210.Received signal from peer device n 3240 is used by module 3220 todetermine and generate device n receive timing adjustment information3246, and then module 3222 stores the information 3246 in memory 3210.This stored receive symbol timing adjustment information (3244, . . . ,3246) is available for later use when processing signals from differentpeer nodes, e.g., traffic signals.

Receive timing adjustment module 3224 retrieves and applies theappropriate receive timing adjustment information, e.g., one ofinformation (3244, . . . , 3246) to a receive signal to match theparticular device which transmitted the signal. In some embodiments, thereceive timing adjustment module 3224 loads values into the wirelessreceiver module 3202 which performs the adjustment. In some embodiments,the adjustment involves time synchronization control of the receiver,which is facilitated through receiver control module 3226 operation. Insome embodiments, the adjustment involves a mathematical processingadjustment of a received signal.

In various embodiments, the transmit timing is not adjusted based onsignals received from the peer communications devices. Thus the peer topeer wireless communications device uses the same transmit timingirrespective of the peer node to which it is transmitting, but adjustsits receive timing as a function of the peer node which transmitted thesignal being received.

The generation and maintenance of multiple sets of receive symbol timingadjustment information facilitates: rapid switching between multiplepeers, concurrent peer to peer sessions with multiple peers, and/orsmaller cyclic prefixes than would otherwise be needed if a singlecommon receive symbol timing adjustment implementation was used.

In various embodiments, receive symbol timing adjustment information isgenerated and maintained during at least some time intervals for atleast some peer nodes which do not have current active connections withwireless communications device 3200. Thus the adjustment information isreadily available if and when an active connection is initialed.

FIG. 33 is a drawing of an exemplary peer to peer communications network3300 in accordance with various embodiments. Exemplary communicationsnetwork 3300 includes a plurality of wireless communications devicessupporting peer to peer communications (WT 1 3306, WT 2 3308, WT 3 3310,. . . , WT N 3312). In some embodiments, the network includes areference signal source node 3302, e.g., a satellite, a base station, ora beacon signal transmitter that does not transmit user data, thereference signal source node transmitting a reference broadcast signal3304, that can be utilized by the wireless communications devicessupporting peer to peer communications to synchronize with respect to apeer to peer timing structure.

Exemplary peer to peer connection communications signals 3314 are shownbetween WT 1 3306 and WT 3 3310. At least some of the wirelesscommunications devices supporting peer to peer communications are mobilenodes. The exemplary peer to peer communications devices are, e.g., anyof the exemplary communications devices 2700 of FIG. 27, 2800 of FIG.28, 2900 of FIG. 29, 3000 of FIG. 30, 3100 of FIG. 31 or 3200 of FIG.32. The exemplary peer to peer communications devices implement methods,e.g., one or more of the methods of flowchart 200 of FIG. 2, flowchart300 of FIG. 3, flowchart 400 of FIG. 4, flowchart 500 of FIG. 5,flowchart 1500 of FIG. 15, flowchart 1800 of FIG. 18, flow 1900 of FIG.19, flowchart 2400 of FIG. 24 or flowchart 2500 of FIG. 25. Theexemplary peer to peer communications devices implement a peer to peertiming structure, e.g., one or more of the timing structures describedwith respect to FIG. 1, FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 8, FIG. 9, FIG. 10, FIG.11, FIG. 12, FIG. 13, FIG. 14, FIG. 16, FIG. 17, FIG. 20, FIG. 21, FIG.22, or FIG. 23 or a peer to peer timing structure using a feature orfeatures described therein.

While described in the context of an OFDM system, the methods andapparatus of various embodiments are applicable to a wide range ofcommunications systems including many non-OFDM and/or non-cellularsystems. Some exemplary systems include a mixture of technologiesutilized in the peer to peer signaling, e.g., some OFDM type signals andsome CDMA type signals.

In various embodiments nodes described herein are implemented using oneor more modules to perform the steps corresponding to one or moremethods, for example, determining a timing reference point, accessingstored peer to peer timing structure information, identifying a type ofpeer to peer timing structure time interval, performing peer discovery,performing peer to peer timing synchronization, performing peer to peerpaging operations, identifying traffic control resources, monitoringidentified traffic control resources, maintaining peer to peer activeconnection lists, performing peer to peer traffic operations, etc. Insome embodiments various features are implemented using modules. Suchmodules may be implemented using software, hardware or a combination ofsoftware and hardware. Many of the above described methods or methodsteps can be implemented using machine executable instructions, such assoftware, included in a machine readable medium such as a memory device,e.g., RAM, floppy disk, etc. to control a machine, e.g., general purposecomputer with or without additional hardware, to implement all orportions of the above described methods, e.g., in one or more nodes.Accordingly, among other things, various embodiments are directed to amachine-readable medium including machine executable instructions forcausing a machine, e.g., processor and associated hardware, to performone or more of the steps of the above-described method(s).

Numerous additional variations on the methods and apparatus describedabove will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the abovedescriptions. Such variations are to be considered within scope. Themethods and apparatus of various embodiments may be, and in variousembodiments are, used with CDMA, orthogonal frequency divisionmultiplexing (OFDM), and/or various other types of communicationstechniques which may be used to provide wireless communications linksbetween access nodes and mobile nodes. In some embodiments the accessnodes are implemented as base stations which establish communicationslinks with mobile nodes using OFDM and/or CDMA. In various embodimentsthe mobile nodes are implemented as notebook computers, personal dataassistants (PDAs), or other portable devices includingreceiver/transmitter circuits and logic and/or routines, forimplementing the methods of various embodiments.

1. A method of operating a first wireless communications device,comprising: accessing stored timing structure information used todetermine recurring peer discovery intervals and traffic intervals;during a peer discovery time interval, receiving a broadcast signal froma second wireless communications device; recovering an identifier fromthe received broadcast signal, said identifier being one of a deviceidentifier and a user identifier; and storing said recovered identifierin memory.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: deleting saidreceived identifier from said memory in response to determining that asignal from said second wireless communications device has not beendetected within a period of time.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein saidperiod of time is a predetermined period of time.
 4. The method of claim3 wherein said predetermined period of time is a lifetime associatedwith said received identifier, the method further comprising: updating atimer used to determine when said lifetime has expired when a signal isreceived from said second wireless communications device, said lifetimebeing a predetermined amount of time.
 5. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising, during one of the traffic intervals: communicating user databetween the first and the second wireless communications devices via awireless communications link.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein saidwireless communications link between the first and second wirelesscommunications devices is a direct wireless communications link betweensaid first and second wireless communications devices; wherein saidcommunicating includes at least one of receiving and sending user data;and wherein said user data includes one of text data, image data, voicedata, and application data.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein saidaccessed stored timing structure information further includesinformation used to determine recurring paging intervals.
 8. The methodof claim 7, further comprising: detecting an event used to triggersending of a paging message to said second wireless communicationdevice; and prior to communicating user data between said first andsecond wireless communications devices, transmitting a paging message tosaid second wireless communications device during the occurrence of oneof said determined paging intervals.
 9. The method of claim 8, furthercomprising: prior to transmitting said paging message, determining theone of said determined paging intervals to be used for transmitting saidpaging message as a function of said stored identifier. [note devicesmay listen to a subset of paging intervals which correspond to their IDbut not others]
 10. The method of claim 6, further comprising: detectingan event used to trigger sending of a paging message to said secondwireless communications device; and selecting between sending a peer topeer page to said second wireless communications device and sending apage through another device.
 11. The method of claim 6, furthercomprising: detecting an event used to trigger sending of a pagingmessage to said second wireless communications device; and determiningif the second wireless communications device is pageable by a peer topeer page; and if said second wireless communications device is pageableby a peer to peer page transmitting a direct page to the second wirelesscommunications device.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein if it isdetermined that said second wireless communications device in notpageable by a peer to peer page, transmitting a wide area page toanother node to initiate a page to said second wireless communicationsdevice.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein determining if said secondcommunications device is reachable by a peer to peer page includeschecking a list of stored identifiers associated with devices, said listbeing stored in said memory.
 14. The method of claim 5, furthercomprising: prior to communicating user data: i) paging the secondwireless communications device during a paging interval; and ii)communicating peer to peer session establishment information betweensaid first and second wireless communications devices.
 15. The method ofclaim 14, wherein communicating peer to peer session establishmentinformation includes at least one of sending session establishmentinformation and receiving session establishment information; and whereinsaid peer to peer session establishment information includes at leastone of a session identifier, session quality of service (QOS)information and an indicator of the type of traffic to be communicatedduring said session.
 16. The method of claim 5, wherein said accessedstored timing structure information further includes information used todetermine recurring paging intervals.
 17. The method of claim 16,further comprising: prior to said communicating user data, monitoringduring at least some of said paging intervals for pages directed to saidfirst wireless communications device.
 18. The method of claim 17,further comprising, in response to receiving a page directed to saidfirst wireless communications device while performing said monitoring:transmitting a page response signal.
 19. The method of claim 17, furthercomprising: if no page directed to said first wireless communicationsdevice is detected during a paging interval, not monitoring for trafficdata during at least one traffic interval occurring following saidpaging interval in which no page was detected directed to the firstwireless communications device and prior to occurrence of another paginginterval.
 20. The method of claim 17, wherein none of the trafficintervals which occur between a monitored paging interval and the nextpaging interval are monitored by said first wireless communicationsdevice when a page directed to said first wireless communications deviceis not detected during the monitored paging interval.
 21. The method ofclaim 17, further comprising: monitoring for additional paging signalsduring paging intervals occurring between traffic intervals in whichuser data is communicated as part of an ongoing session between thefirst and second wireless communications devices.
 22. first wirelesscommunications device, comprising: stored timing structure informationused to determine recurring peer discovery intervals and trafficintervals; an interval determination module for accessing stored timingstructure information and determining a type of interval correspondingto a point in time; a wireless receiver module for receiving a broadcastsignal from a second wireless communications device during a peerdiscovery time interval; and a peer identifier recovery module forrecovering an identifier from the received broadcast signal, saididentifier being one of a device identifier and a user identifier andfor storing said recovered identifier in memory.
 23. The first wirelesscommunications device of claim 22, further comprising: a peer identifierdeletion module for deleting said received identifier from said memoryin response to determining that a signal from said second wirelesscommunications device has not been detected within a period of time. 24.The first wireless communications device of claim 23, wherein saidperiod of time is a predetermined period of time.
 25. The first wirelesscommunications device of claim 24 wherein said predetermined period oftime is a lifetime associated with said received identifier, the firstwireless communications device further comprising: a timer reset modulefor updating a timer module used to determine when said lifetime hasexpired when a signal is received from said second wirelesscommunications device, said lifetime being a predetermined amount oftime.
 26. The first wireless communications device of claim 22, furthercomprising: a traffic module for controlling communication of user databetween the first and the second wireless communications devices via awireless communications link during at least one traffic interval. 27.The first wireless communications device of claim 26, wherein saidwireless communications link between the first and second wirelesscommunications devices is a direct wireless communications link betweensaid first and second wireless communications devices; wherein saidcommunication of user data includes at least one of receiving andsending user data; and wherein said user data includes one of text data,image data, voice data, and application data, the traffic modulecomprising at least one of: a transmission control module forcontrolling the sending of user data during a peer to peer trafficinterval; and a reception control module for controlling the receivingof user data during a peer to peer traffic interval.
 28. The firstwireless communications device of claim 27, wherein said stored timingstructure information further includes information used to determinerecurring paging intervals.
 29. The first wireless communications deviceof claim 28, further comprising: a wireless transmitter module fortransmitting signals including peer to peer page signals; a page eventdetection module for detecting an event used to trigger sending of apaging message to said second wireless communication device; and apaging module for generating a paging message directed to said secondwireless communications device and for controlling the wireless terminaltransmitter to transmit the generated paging message to said secondwireless communications device during the occurrence of one of saiddetermined paging intervals, said transmission being prior tocommunicating user data between said first and second wirelesscommunications devices.
 30. The first wireless communications device ofclaim 29, further comprising: a paging interval determination module fordetermining the one of said determined paging intervals to be used fortransmitting said paging message as a function of said stored identifierprior to transmitting said paging message.
 31. The first wirelesscommunications device of claim 27, further comprising: a page eventdetection module for detecting an event used to trigger sending of apaging message to said second wireless communications device; and apaging type selection module for selecting between sending a peer topeer page to said second wireless communications device and sending apage through another device.
 32. The first wireless communicationsdevice of claim 27, further comprising: a page event detection modulefor detecting an event used to trigger sending of a paging message tosaid second wireless communications device; and a peer to peer pagingviability module for determining if the second wireless communicationsdevice is pageable by a peer to peer page; and a peer to peer pagingmodule for generating a direct page and controlling transmission of saiddirect page to the second wireless communications device if said secondwireless communications device is pageable by a peer to peer page. 33.The first wireless communications device of claim 32, furthercomprising: a wide area paging module for generating a wide area pageand for controlling transmission of said wide area page to another nodeto initiate a page to said second wireless communications device if itis determined that said second wireless communications device in notpageable by a peer to peer page.
 34. The first wireless communicationsdevice of claim 32 wherein said peer to peer paging viability moduleincludes: an identifier list checking module for determining if saidsecond communications device is reachable by a peer to peer page bychecking a list of stored identifiers associated with devices, said listbeing stored in said memory.
 35. The first wireless communicationsdevice of claim 26, further comprising: a paging module for paging thesecond wireless communications device during a paging interval prior tocommunicating user data; and a peer to peer session establishment modulefor communicating peer to peer session establishment information betweensaid first and second wireless communications devices prior tocommunicating user data.
 36. The first wireless communications device ofclaim 35, wherein communicating peer to peer session establishmentinformation includes at least one of sending session establishmentinformation and receiving session establishment information; and whereinsaid peer to peer session establishment information includes at leastone of a session identifier, session quality of service (QOS)information and an indicator of the type of traffic to be communicatedduring said session.
 37. The first wireless communications device ofclaim 26, wherein said stored timing structure information furtherincludes information used to determine recurring paging intervals. 38.The first wireless communications device of claim 37, furthercomprising: a page monitoring module for monitoring during at least someof said paging intervals for pages directed to said first wirelesscommunications device.
 39. The first wireless communications device ofclaim 38, further comprising: a page response signaling module forgenerating a page response signal in response to receiving a pagedirected to said first wireless communications device while performingsaid monitoring and for controlling the transmission of said generatedpage response signal.
 40. The first wireless communications device ofclaim 38, wherein said traffic module includes a reception controlmodule, and wherein if no page directed to said first wirelesscommunications device is detected during a paging interval, thereception control module of the traffic module does not monitor fortraffic data during at least one traffic interval occurring followingsaid paging interval in which no page was detected directed to the firstwireless communications device and prior to occurrence of another paginginterval.
 41. The first wireless communications device of claim 38,wherein said traffic module includes a reception control module, andwherein if no page directed to said first wireless communications deviceis detected during a monitored paging interval, none of the trafficintervals which occur between the monitored paging interval and a nextmonitored paging interval are monitored by the reception control moduleof the traffic module.
 42. The first wireless communications device ofclaim 38, wherein said page monitoring module monitors for additionalpaging signals during paging intervals occurring between trafficintervals in which user data is communicated as part of an ongoingsession between the first and second wireless communications devices.43. A first wireless communications device, comprising: stored timingstructure information means for determining recurring peer discoveryintervals and traffic intervals; means for accessing stored timingstructure information and determining a type of interval correspondingto a point in time; means for receiving a broadcast signal from a secondwireless communications device during a peer discovery time interval;and means for recovering an identifier from the received broadcastsignal, said identifier being one of a device identifier and a useridentifier and for storing said recovered identifier in memory.
 44. Thefirst wireless communications device of claim 43, further comprising:means for controlling communication of user data between the first andthe second wireless communications devices via a wireless communicationslink during at least one traffic interval.
 45. The first wirelesscommunications device of claim 44, wherein said wireless communicationslink between the first and second wireless communications devices is adirect wireless communications link between said first and secondwireless communications devices; wherein said communication of user dataincludes at least one of receiving and sending user data; and whereinsaid user data includes one of text data, image data, voice data, andapplication data, the means for controlling communication comprising atleast one of: means for controlling the sending of user data during apeer to peer traffic interval; and means for controlling the receivingof user data during a peer to peer traffic interval.
 46. The firstwireless communications device of claim 45, further comprising: pageevent detection means for detecting an event used to trigger sending ofa paging message to said second wireless communications device; andmeans for selecting between sending a peer to peer page to said secondwireless communications device and sending a page through anotherdevice.
 47. The first wireless communications device of claim 44,further comprising: paging means for paging the second wirelesscommunications device during a paging interval prior to communicatinguser data; and means for communicating peer to peer sessionestablishment information between said first and second wirelesscommunications devices prior to communicating user data.
 48. The firstwireless communications device of claim 44, wherein said stored timingstructure information further includes information used to determinerecurring paging intervals.
 49. A computer readable medium embodyingmachine executable instructions for operating a first wirelesscommunications device, the method comprising: accessing stored timingstructure information used to determine recurring peer discoveryintervals and traffic intervals; during a peer discovery time interval,receiving a broadcast signal from a second wireless communicationsdevice; recovering an identifier from the received broadcast signal,said identifier being one of a device identifier and a user identifier;and storing said recovered identifier in memory.
 50. The computerreadable medium of claim 49, further embodying machine executableinstructions for, during one of the traffic intervals: communicatinguser data between the first and the second wireless communicationsdevices via a wireless communications link.
 51. The computer readablemedium of claim 50, wherein said wireless communications link betweenthe first and second wireless communications devices is a directwireless communications link between said first and second wirelesscommunications devices; wherein said communicating includes at least oneof receiving and sending user data; and wherein said user data includesone of text data, image data, voice data, and application data.
 52. Thecomputer readable medium of claim 51, further embodying machineexecutable instructions for: detecting an event used to trigger sendingof a paging message to said second wireless communications device; andselecting between sending a peer to peer page to said second wirelesscommunications device and sending a page through another device.
 53. Thecomputer readable medium of claim 50, further embodying machineexecutable instructions for: prior to communicating user data: i) pagingthe second wireless communications device during a paging interval; andii) communicating peer to peer session establishment information betweensaid first and second wireless communications devices.
 54. The computerreadable medium of claim 53, wherein communicating peer to peer sessionestablishment information includes at least one of sending sessionestablishment information and receiving session establishmentinformation; and wherein said peer to peer session establishmentinformation includes at least one of a session identifier, sessionquality of service (QOS) information and an indicator of the type oftraffic to be communicated during said session.
 55. An apparatuscomprising: a processor configured to: access stored timing structureinformation used to determine recurring peer discovery intervals andtraffic intervals; during a peer discovery time interval, receive abroadcast signal from a second wireless communications device; recoveran identifier from the received broadcast signal, said identifier beingone of a device identifier and a user identifier; and store saidrecovered identifier in memory.
 56. The apparatus of claim 55, whereinsaid processor is further configured to, during one of the trafficintervals: communicate user data between the first and the secondwireless communications devices via a wireless communications link. 57.The apparatus of claim 56, wherein said wireless communications linkbetween the first and second wireless communications devices is a directwireless communications link between said first and second wirelesscommunications devices; wherein said communicate user data includes atleast one of receiving and sending user data; and wherein said user dataincludes one of text data, image data, voice data, and application data.58. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein said processor is furtherconfigured to: detect an event used to trigger sending of a pagingmessage to said second wireless communications device; and selectbetween sending a peer to peer page to said second wirelesscommunications device and sending a page through another device.
 59. Theapparatus of claim 56, wherein said processor is further configured to,prior to communicating user data: i) page the second wirelesscommunications device during a paging interval; and ii) communicate peerto peer session establishment information between said first and secondwireless communications devices.
 60. The apparatus of claim 59, whereinsaid communicate peer to peer session establishment information includesat least one of sending session establishment information and receivingsession establishment information; and wherein said peer to peer sessionestablishment information includes at least one of a session identifier,session quality of service (QOS) information and an indicator of thetype of traffic to be communicated during said session.